World Junior Hockey news...

Team USA beat Switzerland,2-1,and are in the semifinals,of the IIHF World Junior Championships,in Buffalo,New York... they won the tourney,in 2009,in Saskatoon,Saskatchewan...

game score,and commentary...

Islanders 4,Red Wings 3,overtime... both teams got a power play in overtime,and during Red Wings' power play,Johan Franzen's stick got slashed and broken,by an Islanders' player,and was not called,and within seconds,Henrik Zetterberg got called for holding(a blatant call,i may say)... not griping too much... a great road game,by Islanders,and to give them some hockey love,they also beat Pittsburgh,and Detroit,back to back(the top two teams,so far,in NHL),and are 6-1-1,in last eight games... however,they are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference... Red Wings got a point out of the game,so i am not that upset... history tidbit:during 2006 playoffs,in six games,Edmonton beat,4-2,in games... why bring that up,one Edmonton Oiler player,in that series,played tonight,against Red Wings? one Dwayne Roloson,goaltender,of the 2006 Edmonton Oilers(who out-dueled Manny Legace),and the goaltender,of the 2010 New York Islanders,on this night...

game in progress... overtime...

Red Wings scored once on Tomas Tatar's first goal of his NHL career,to force overtime...

comment...

Tomas Tatar,playing his first NHL game,scored his first NHL goal,in tying game,with Islanders,at 3 all... way to go,Tomas!!!!!!!

game in progress--2nd period

Islanders 3, Red Wings 2,after two periods... Islanders are trying to ugly up game,basically frustrate Red Wings,and play defense,and rely on their goaltender,to win game.. both teams scored in final seconds,of first two periods(Islanders,19:57,of the first period,and Red Wings,19:51,of the second period)... Johan Franzen scored in first period,to make it,1-0,then Islanders used three face-off wins(including Lidstrom's own goal,when he tried to knock puck past right goalpost,but missed,and just slapped puck,into net),in first period,and second period,to score all three goals,then Valtteri Filppula scored with nine seconds left,in second period...

game in progress...

Islanders 2, Red Wings 1... after one period,Islanders have very few shots(four shots),on goal,but Nicklas Lidstrom slapped the puck into own net,for first goal,and Islanders slapped it past Jimmy Howard,in final seconds,left in first period... ugly period for both teams...

odd trivia...

New York Islanders,over the last two years,have played both Chicago,and Detroit,four times... their record,4-0,against the last two Western Conference Champions...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Islanders,tonight,in Detroit...

correction...

the Red Wings have won three in a row,since Christmas,all on the road,but they lost to St. Louis,4-3,on December 23,2010,to actually start a road trip,before Christmas,so even though they swept Minnesota,Colorado,and Dallas,in their buildings,i honestly felt like i owed a correction to my blog...

commentary...

the last time Red Wings scored on the New York Islanders,was on January 30,2007,in a 4-3 overtime win,by Red Wings,when Henrik Zetterberg scored with 2:03,left in overtime...

game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 7,Stars 3... Red Wings are 17-1-1,when scoring four,or more,goals,this season,and in last 41 games,when scoring four or more goals,they are 37-1-3... they are second(behind Pittsburgh,who lost in shootout,with the New York Islanders,tonight,and has 53 points),with 52 points,for best team in NHL,and they have two games in hand(they have played two fewer games),which puts them second,in NHL,and best in Western Conference,so far... Dallas erased a 1-0 lead,in second period,by scoring three goals,in 1:14,then got steamrolled,by Red Wings,in last half of game... Patrick Eaves scored a hat trick,and Red Wings played very good defense,and Red Wings snapped a six game losing streak in Dallas,tonight... a sweep on the road,and now they play the Islanders,next,at home,who beat the Red Wings,6-0,last year(January 11,2010,in New York)... in fact,the Red Wings have been shut out the last two times,that they played the Islanders(also,2-0,March 27,2009,in Detroit),so they owe them a beating...

Red Wings' trivia...

the last time Red Wings scored all of their goals,on the power play,before game with Colorado,two nights ago,was December 9,2006,when they beat Toronto,5-1... in fact,all of the goals that were on the power play,including Toronto's goal... actually,i remember that game... Red Wings were five of first eight,including both ends,of a five-on-three,going into third period,and could have had more goals in a penalty-filled third period... Red Wings were 5 for 14,overall,on power play,in that game... Maple Leafs were 1 for 8,on power play,including a diving call,on Dominik Hasek,in third period... what a real nugget of trivia!!!!!!!!

Red Wings' news...

Detroit/Dallas,tonight,in Dallas... round 3,tonight...

Walleye news...

Toledo Walleye are 11-14-2-1,10th,in Eastern Conference,of the ECHL,with 25 points,only a point ahead of the Trenton Devils...

Griffiths' news...

Grand Rapids Griffiths are 15-15-1-4,fifth place in North Division,of Western Conference,eight points behind the Hamilton Bulldogs,who have a five point lead,over second place Manitoba Moose,who have 38 points,so Grand Rapids is actually not far behind Manitoba,for second place in division...

commentary...

Nicklas Lidstrom had a goal,and three assists,along with Jiri Hudler,Johan Franzen,and Niklas Kronwall,who scored goals... Jiri Hudler scored his second goal of the season(both goals scored against Peter Budaj(Avalanche goaltender))... Johan Franzen tied game,at 2... Lidstrom gave Red Wings their first lead of the game,3-2,with a slapshot,past Budaj,but Matt Duchene scored his second goal of the night,for Avalanche,on their 7th power play of game to force overtime,and then Budaj tripped Darren Helm,in overtime,to give the Red Wings their sixth,and last(a four on three)power play,when Kronwall scored on an one timer,to win game,4-3,but the Red Wings would not have been in overtime,if it was not for Chris Osgood,who stopped 46 shots,23 of them in second period,many of them spectacular saves,and he is player of the game,with earning his 400th win(tenth goaltender,in NHL history)...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 4,Avalanche 3,in overtime... Chris Osgood wins his 400th NHL game... Red Wings scored all four goals on the power play,tonight,going four for six,on the power play... Osgood became the 10th goalie,in NHL history,to win 400 games,as a goaltender... seven of the ten are in Hockey Hall of Fame... after giving up two easy goals,in first period(a 2-2 tie after one period),he basically stood on his head,in goal,for Red Wings... next up,for Osgood,on wins list,is Hockey Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr,who won five Stanley Cups,with Edmonton,four with Wayne Gretzky,and one in 1990,with Mark Messier,who,by the way,won six Stanley Cups,five with Edmonton,and one,with the New York Rangers,in 1994...

injury update...

Danny Cleary out four weeks with broken ankle,suffered last night,during game with Minnesota Wild... must have blocked shot,with ankle,and shot broke ankle... he scored second goal of game,in first period,and 16th of season,then left game....

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Avalanche,tonight,in Denver...

commentary...

Henrik Zetterberg,Danny Cleary,Kris Draper,and Tomas Holmstrom,all scored within nine minutes of each other;Zetterberg,and Cleary,in the first period,and Draper,and Holmstrom,in the second period,as Red Wings cruised to a easy 4-1 victory,over the Minnesota Wild... Jimmy Howard faced only eighteen shots,allowing only one goal... both goals by Henrik Zetterberg,and Danny Cleary's deflected off Niklas Backstrom(Wild goaltender),one off his back from behind the goal line(Zetterberg's)and Cleary's goal went off his skate,and into the net... Draper's goal was a beautiful tip past Backstrom,and Holmstrom's goal was basically a twisting,behind the back goal,with a Wild player all over his back,past Backstrom...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 4,Wild 1... analysis tomorrow morning... Red Wings are best team,in Western Conference,with 48 points....

commentary...

my honest opinion,is that the pundits will be wrong,about Pavel Datsyuk's injury to his right wrist/hand... as soon as it feels strong enough to take a major face-off on the ice,he will be back playing with Red Wings... i knew something was wrong,when he refused to take a face-off,in the Red Wings' offensive zone... they say,at least,four weeks,but i know one thing about Datsyuk;he has a very high pain limit on his body,and,mark my words,he will be back sooner,because he missed only seven games,in the playoffs,with a broken foot,in 2009... remember that?

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings play Avalanche,on back-to-back nights,after Minnesota Wild...

Red Wings' news...

Detroit/Minnesota Wild,Sunday....

game score,and commentary...

Blues 4,Red Wings 3... good first two periods;Blues went off to 4-1 lead,looked like a rout in process,but Red Wings fought back with two late goals,in second period to close within 4-3,but could not get tying goal,in third period... first three goals came in 66 seconds;two by St Louis,in first period,and two more Blues' goals,late in first period,and early in second period,to make it,4-1... both goaltenders looked soft in spots,and Detroit looked flat in first period,and early in second,having played last night,but they got their second wind,in last half of game,but could not take advantage of the Blues' running around,in their own zone,in third period... the announcers just irritated the snot out of me,blaming Detroit,for every little tic tac touch of the Blues' players,and even criticizing officials for a close,but legal,dash with puck to the net,claiming it to be offsides,and it was a great play by the Red Wings,when they came out of penalty box,and it was a stretch pass... Johan Franzen,Nicklas Lidstrom,and Patrick Eaves scored for the Red Wings... the Blues jumped all over the Red Wings early,and deserved to win,scoring three goals in first period,and four in first half of game,and they hung on,for dear life... Red Wings took too many stupid penalties,early in game,and penalty kill for Red Wings really sucked,early... St. Louis got some strange bounces,one goal went off a Red Wings' player's leg,and changed direction,mid-flight,and into the net... entertaining game,but the Red Wings have to improve on defense... nine,of next eleven,games,on the road...

Red Wings' news...

Detroit/St. Louis,tonight,in St. Louis,then Christmas break... analysis of game,after game....

analysis of game...

the pundits say that the Red Wings "have a big hole in their team",but honestly,the loss of Pavel Datsyuk,for about a month,is going to be felt mostly,on defense... luckily,the Red Wings has enough offense to make up for the loss;expect a loss of a quarter of a goal,in offensive output,but if they tighten up defense,they will be fine... expect Henrik Zetterberg,and Nicklas Lidstrom,to pick up lack of punch,but i expect the Red Wings to stay pat,for a couple of games,then figure out how to play,without Datsyuk(maybe recall a player from Grand Rapids,or shift around current players,on roster)... i expect them to be alright... i rather have this type of injury,right now,instead of March-April,because the loss of Datsyuk,at that point,would be rather bad,in scope,because not having him until playoffs,would really hurt... Datsyuk has missed only six games,since the lockout,until now,not including the 2009 playoffs,when he broke his foot(the deciding factor,along with an injury to Lidstrom,which cost him two games,in the failed offensive playoff run,against Chicago,and Pittsburgh)... Zetterberg scored two goals,including game winner,in overtime,along with Valtteri Filppula,Dan Cleary,and Nicklas Lidstrom,who scored game tying goal,late in third period,to force overtime... the Sedin(Henrik,and Daniel) twins both scored goals,both in second period,for Vancouver,but the Red Wings,kept them in check,most of the game,and peppered Roberto Luongo with shots,and he gave up a couple of very strange goals,and rather soft goals... Red Wings' defense was all right,but to tell you the truth,both teams light it up normally,on each other(last game:Vancouver 6,Detroit 4,so i expected a lot of goals in most games,between both teams)... a win is a win,a rather big win,overall,but Red Wings won last night...

Red Wings' news...

Pavel Datysuk is out with a broken hand,when he fell over Mikael Samuelsson,by accident,in first period... they say,at least a month,but knowing Datsyuk,he will be back shortly before a month... analysis tomorrow...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 5,Canucks 4,in overtime...

Red Wings' news...

Vancouver/Detroit,tonight,at 4:30 pm.... analysis after game....

Toledo Walleye(ECHL)news...

the Walleye(shared with Chicago Blackhawks,boo,hiss!)are 9-14-2-1 with 21 points,nine points,behind Wheeling(West Virginia) Nailers... they do have two very good young goalies,Jordan Pearce,out of Notre Dame,who led nation,with a record,of 30-6-3,in 2008-2009(Detroit's draft pick),and Joseph(Joe)Palmer,who played parts of three years,with Ohio State Buckeyes,and won two gold medals,as member of Team USA UNDER 18(U-18)gold medal winning teams,at IIHF Under-18 World Championships,in 2005,and 2006(Chicago's draft pick)...

Griffiths' news...

Grand Rapids Griffiths are,13-14-1-4,and in last place,in their division(North Division,of Western Conference)... they are 4-5-1 in last ten games... they have scored 92 goals,and given up 98 goals... they are second,in American Hockey League,in one category:Penalty minutes(672),behind Albany Devils(676)...

Red Wings' news...

the next three games will be Vancouver,in Detroit,Wednesday,St. Louis,Thursday,in St. Louis,and Minnesota,in Minnesota,December 26th.... there is a two day Christmas Day break...

sports history...

according to Stats INC.,yesterday was historic,when all three teams,in Detroit(NFL,NBA,and NHL),all went into overtime,on same day... it was the first time in history,that it has happened...

commentary...

Dallas Stars came back from a 2-0 first period deficit,to tie game,at 2,going into second period... both teams had a power play goal,and then had a goal go into net off opposing player,past goaltender,in first period,in a very hard fought,body-crunching first period... in fact,both teams planted some great body checks,throughout the game... Pavel Datsyuk,and Patrick Eaves scored in first 12:30,of game,and then Datsyuk had a breakaway to make it,3-0,but got stopped,and then within seconds,Brad Richards scored to make it,2-1,and then Brendan Morrow,scored,about four minutes later,to tie game,at 2,after one period... they fought,literally,to a standstill,until Johan Franzen scored,with 17 seconds to play,in second period... Red Wings led,3-2,until 3:14 left,in game,when Jamie Benn,threw a great pass,to Brendan Morrow,again,for his second goal of night,on a backhand,right between Osgood's pads,and into the net,to force overtime,and then with 42 seconds left,on a great pass,by Benn,to Loui Eriksson,who swept in from the left side,on a three on one,to put the puck,past Osgood,for the overtime win...

Red Wings' game score...

Stars 4,Red Wings 3... overtime... Red Wings have not beaten Stars,in overtime,or shootout,since 2001... beginning to despise the Stars,as much as i despise the Avalanche... analysis tomorrow...

game in progress--2nd period

Red Wings,3 Stars 2,after two periods... analysis,tomorrow... wild first period,and Red Wings scored game-leading goal,with 17 seconds,left in second period...

Red Wings' news...

Detroit/Dallas today,at 2 pm....

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Blackhawks 4,Red Wings 1... an empty net goal,made score 4-1... Tomas Kopecky had two goals(the last two goals),and Red Wings did not get a power play,but again,there was only one power play in game(in the first two minutes),and Chicago scored,off the right goalpost-low down by the ice... in fact,both goals,by Chicago,went off the same goalpost-on a rocket up high-past Howard... Chicago did out-play Red Wings throughout the game,i admit...

game in progress--2nd period

Blackhawks 3,Red Wings 1... overall,both teams are playing hard... Chicago played harder,and they need game more,but great passes and shots are just beating Howard... there is nothing wrong with Chicago's offensive game,but it has been their goaltending that has been suspect this season,and overall,the all time game record between both teams are basically even... you can throw out the records of both teams,because they do not like each other,but Mike Babcock is not happy with the way the team is playing,tonight... neither am i...

game in progress...

Chicago 2,Detroit 1... Blackhawks scored two goals,in the first 4:32,of game,then Detroit scored 27 seconds,after that... three goals,in first five minutes... both Chicago goals were just great passes,and shots;one off the right goalpost,and one rocket past Howard,so you can not blame Jimmy Howard for either Chicago goal,but Red Wings came out real flat,but after their goal,they picked up pressure,on Chicago,and Corey Crawford...

commentary...

Red Wings/Blackhawks,in Chicago,tonight,at 5:30... you have heard enough about the Red Wings,but to tell you the truth,Blackhawks are in serious trouble of being out of the playoff hunt... as of right now,they have played 33 games,and have a record of 16-14-3.... they have scored three more goals than Red Wings,but have given up TWENTY more goals on defense... they are closer to Edmonton,in points(six),than Detroit(eight)... Edmonton is last,in conference,and Detroit is first in conference... Detroit has three games in hand,which is key to the conference race... the Blackhawks are actually tied,in points,for eighth,but because of number of games played by them,they are actually 12th,in conference,and are,right now,dead last in Central division.... Stan Bowman(son of Scotty) gambled on youth,to back up their stars,this season,for depth,and grit,and they have failed miserably,so far... Jonathan Toews,Patrick Kane,and Patrick Sharp are three of the best players,in NHL,no doubt,but if you shut them down,over a 82 game season,the Blackhawks are in deep trouble,because they do not have enough firepower,overall,in their team,to win consistently... Marty Turco is having his usual so-so season,and record,against Detroit,is horrendous,winning only a handful of games,over his career... Turco is,right now,is 8-8-2,and the backup(Corey Crawford)is 8-6-1,and ten years younger... Turco was supposed to stabilize goaltending,but has a save percentage,of .896,and a goals against average,of 3.06... Crawford has a save percentage,of .911,and a G.A.A,OF 2.53... unlike the Red Wings,who were injured,as a team,most of last season,until Olympic Break,the Blackhawks have no excuses,on how bad they are really playing,as a team,this season,and now the big bad Red Wings(20-7-3)are in town,and Red Wings have not played well recently... the Red Wings have the fewest regulation losses,in NHL(tied,with Philadelphia,at this time),but are somewhat angry,as a team,with the way that they have played on defense(remember the 5-0 loss,to the Los Angeles Kings,in which they had 51 shots on goal,and they basically stunk,on defense)... interesting game,normally,because both teams hate each other,and expect both teams to be on edge,and a war between them,like always... tidbit:when Red Wings,won Stanley Cup,in 2008,the one team they had the most trouble with was the Blackhawks,who beat Red Wings,five times(of eight games),and last year,when Chicago blanked them,3-0,in back-to-back games... expect a fighting,spitting(ha,ha) Blackhawks' team to come out and try to rough up the Red Wings,tonight... what fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

analysis of game...

Nicklas Lidstrom had his first hat trick,in 1,442 games,and an assist,Dan Cleary had a goal,and two assists,and Henrik Zetterberg had four assists,along with Niklas Kronwall,who scored a goal,whose Red Wings overall stomped,and pounded on the St. Louis Blues,5-2... they played a solid game,and yet,it was Lidstrom's night,after nineteen years of playing,in NHL,and missing somewhat like 35 games,to injury,in that span of time... he have six Norris trophies(third in NHL history),and coaches and players,from Red Wings,and,actually,other teams,say of him,as being near perfect,on defense,and he is very good,period... they basically try to pattern their defensemen,on Lidstrom,because he takes very few penalties,and simply plays very good defense,on odd-man rushes,taking away passes,even after nineteen years... WAY TO GO,NICK!!!!!!!!

correction...

it is Jonathan Quick,of the Los Angeles Kings,not Jamie... brain cramp...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 5 Blues 2... Nicklas Lidstrom netted his first hat trick,and had an assist,in a 5-2 win,over the Blues.... analysis tomorrow...

Griffiths',and Toledo Walleye(ECHL)news...

Grand Rapids Griffiths are 12-12-1-4,and Toledo Walleye(Red Wings' ECHL affiliate,shared with Chicago Blackhawks(boooo!!!!)are 9-12-2-1... Griffiths have lost four of the last six games,but have won two of the last three games,at Van Andel Arena,in Grand Rapids... Toledo Walleye have won three,of last five games,and they play at the Huntington Center,in Toledo...

NHL news,and Red Wings' notes....

get this stat:since Olympic break,Red Wings,with 50 games,through that time,are 35-10-5... power play is just under 21 percent,and penalty kill(PK),is just under 87 percent,which is very good... the next three games are:St. Louis,in Detroit,Wednesday,and Chicago,Friday,and Dallas,in Detroit,on Sunday... stats are from NHL.com...

commentary...

both teams were praising Jamie Quick,in his performance,in his 5-0 shutout,of Red Wings,by his Los Angeles Kings... the last shutout of Red Wings,was January 12,2010,when the New York Islanders stomped the Red Wings,6-0...

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

Jamie Quick stopped 51 shots,in a 5-0 shutout of the Red Wings,in Detroit,and looked like a stone wall,while Jimmy Howard looked like a sieve,giving up easy goal,after easy goal... Howard had his worst game of the year,and Kings were swarming around the goal net,like flies,but got every bounce,and Howard was very soft,in net,and defense around the net was the worst defense that i have seen,since last season... before you say,"Red Wings sucked last night"(they did suck),the Red Wings suffered their first shutout,of the year,when last season,by New Year's Day,they had seven shutouts thrown at them,including back to back 3-0 shutouts,at the hands,of the hated Chicago Blackhawks... they are 19-7-3,this season,so Howard will shake off this loss,and work out the kinks off,and get very tough to beat,next game... Jimmy Howard has the temperament of a true warrior,and is one of the best goaltenders,in the NHL,and Mike Babcock is more embarrassed than mad,because the defensive team that the Red Wings really are,did not show up last night,and they will work like dogs,in practice,the next few days,and Babcock will remind them,of this game,next time they play the Kings... the Kings got every bounce,of puck,and deserved the win...

Red Wings' game score...

Kings 5,Red Wings 0... first shutout suffered this year... analysis tomorrow morning...

commentary...

the Los Angeles Kings come to Detroit,Monday,10th in Western Conference-sound familiar?-the San Jose Sharks were 10th,in Western Conference,when they played Red Wings,on November 30th-remember the 5-3 stomping,that night-in San Jose... Kings have a 5-8-0 road record,and Red Wings have home record,of 11-3-2,at Joe Louis Arena,this season... analysis,after game... by the way,the Sharks are tied,with Colorado for eighth,in Western Conference,but because of goal differential,between the two teams,the Sharks are in ninth place,even after a 5-2 win,in Detroit,on December 6... Honestly,they look better than,on November 30th... that is respect of a true hockey fan...

commentary...

Red Wings,19-6-3,best in Western Conference,and second overall,in NHL,behind Pittsburgh,who have won 12 games in row,play Los Angeles Kings,in Detroit,Monday... Los Angeles lost to Minnesota Wild,last night,in overtime,3-2...

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

Red Wings 4,Devils 1... Chris Osgood won his 399th NHL game in net... had a solid game... Red Wings scored at :28,of first period,and at 1:42,of first period... Bang... Bang... and collected third goal,in second period... Tomas Holmstrom,and Dan Cleary scored that quickly,then Henrik Zetterberg scored third goal in second period,at 11:37,of second period,and then Pavel Datsyuk scored in third period,at 10:12 of third period,to wrap up scoring... Patrik Elias scored at :39 of third period,but that was only sniff at goal,and Osgood,and Red Wings did not allow a Montreal repeat,from last night,when they were out-shot 19-3,in third period... Martin Brodeur looked human,but when you give up two goals,in 1:42,of first period,and when you have a team that is really bad,and has not enough firepower,to overcome a quick 2-0 lead,not even Superman could stop Red Wings' momentum,and their defense was very good in first fifty minutes,giving up only one goal,in that time... the Devils had a good power play,at times,but could only beat Red Wings' defense,and Osgood,but Red Wings beat Martin Brodeur twice,in less than two minutes,of start of game,so they clamped down on the Devils,and that was it... both goals,by Holmstrom,and Cleary,rang off the goalpost,and when good teams play,they get the breaks,it seems,doesn't it?

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

Red Wings 4,Canadiens 2... Jimmy Howard stopped eighteen,of nineteen shots,in third period... Detroit hung on for a 4-2 victory,at Joe Louis Arena,over Montreal,only having three shots,in third period... Nicklas Lidstrom scored first goal,for Detroit,at 19:58(1.4 second left),in first period... Niklas Kronwall had a goal at 3:48 in second period,to give Detroit,a 2-1 lead... Pavel Datysuk had a beautiful short-side goal,over Carey Price's left shoulder,under the crossbar,to give Detroit,a 3-1 lead,and a game-winning goal,at 15:31,of second period,then Howard had best period of year,in stopping eighteen,of nineteen shots... the goals,for Montreal,were by Travis Moen,at 11:25,of first period,to give Montreal,a 1-0 lead,then Detroit scored three consecutive goals,to go up,3-1,late in second period,and Montreal scored on a rocket,past Howard,by Benoit Pouliot,at 7:43 of third period,then Patrick Eaves pocketed a shorthanded goal,at 19:14 of third period,to wrap up scoring for Red Wings... wild third period,for Montreal,and Mike Babcock was not happy with offensive effort,in third period,but was delighted,with Howard's third period...

commentary...

Nashville took a 2-0 lead,and basically took it to Red Wings,Wednesday night,winning 3-2,but Datysuk had a highlight reel goal to open scoring,for Detroit,but Nashville dominated game... J-P Dumont,and Johan Franzen swapped goals late in game... Dumont with game-winner,in game,with that late goal....

Red Wings' news...

Detroit/Montreal,tonight in Detroit; will catch up on analysis on Nashville game tonight,and Montreal game tomorrow...

Red Wings' game score...

Nashville 3,Red Wings 2... analysis tomorrow...

correction...

it is rule 78,section 5,subsection 12 that comes into play when referee stops play,with intent to blow whistle,when disallowing goal... (blogpost yesterday)... rule 48 has to do with blindside hits to the head and to do with concussions of players...

notes from Ray...

Nashville/Detroit,tomorrow night,in Detroit... will analyze game Friday afternoon... will do blog with trivia,from Reno... Montreal comes to Detroit on Friday,and will be home for game...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Sharks 5,Red Wings 2... Dany Heatley,and Logan Couture scored twice,and Red Wings had no jump after first period,especially the third period... first regulation loss,for Jimmy Howard,in 21 games,and only the second regulation loss,at home,this season...

game in progress...

Sharks 4,Red Wings 2,end of 2nd... Dany Heatley with two goals and an assist,also Joe Thornton,and Logan Couture,both with goals... somewhat tired Red Wings(no excuses)have been out-played over two periods,but i guess Sharks got pissed,over last Tuesday's loss,in San Jose(at least the coaches were).... honestly,Red Wings are in same hole that the Sharks were in same hole,as the Sharks were in,last Tuesday(see blog),allowing late goal in second period,by Heatley...

game in progress--2nd period

Sharks 3,Red Wings 2 early in period:two goals in eight second span... wild game:two power play goals,by Detroit,and a short-handed goal,by Sharks,in first period... may be a shootout tonight... Detroit got third puck past Antti Niemi,in first period,but it was whistled dead,before it crossed goal line.... it went through Niemi's legs(five hole),but referee lost sight of puck(rule 48,section 3)... no argument with call...

Red Wings' news...

Sharks/Red Wings,tomorrow night,in Detroit... round 2...

game score,and commentary...

Kings 3,Red Wings 2,overtime... Anze Kopitar blew a rocket,past Chris Osgood,with 56 seconds left in overtime... Red Wings got five points,out of possible six points,on a western road trip(2-0-1)... can not win them all... both teams played well,and for a tired Red Wings team,that is not too bad... they have a record of 17-4-3,for 37 points,best in Western Conference... i have missed seeing only one game so far---opening night,against Anaheim-a 4-0 win,in Detroit...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Kings tonight....

commentary...

Red Wings have 15 more games,not including tonight,in month of December,seven more on the road... Ducks looked disinterested,after Red Wings scored third goal of game,in second period... Ducks committed too many turnovers,near their net,and Red Wings played keepaway on a delayed penalty on the Ducks,for over thirty seconds,while,with 6 skaters,in Ducks' zone,with less than fourteen minutes,left in game... what a thing of beautiful passing,and keeping the puck on their sticks!!!!!!!! the Red Wings scored game winning goal,1:09 into the game,when Johan Franzen scored into net,from a sick angle,and Red Wings played very good defense,but Howard was perfect in net tonight,in a 4-0 win,for the Red Wings...

game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 4,Ducks 0... in last thirty-nine regular season games,(going back to last season),Red Wings are 30-5-4... in last sixteen road games(also going back to last season),they are 13-2-1... they have scored three,or more,goals,in seventeen,of their twenty three games,this season... they lead the NHL,in scoring average/per game... Johan Franzen,Tomas Holmstrom,Dan Cleary,and Valtteri Flippula,all scored goals,for Red Wings...

Red Wings' news...

will analyze game,along with game score,after game tonight,at 7,between Red Wings/Ducks,in Anaheim...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Ducks tomorrow...

NHL news... crime news...

thieves robbed the car,of the late Pat Burns,at his funeral,Wednesday,in Montreal,taking collectibles from his car,that were being to donated to charity... police knows what was stolen,and should catch the thieves... NHL is donating any items,not recovered by police...

commentary...

in first period,San Jose came out strong with a push,but Red Wings scored twice on first three shots they had,and i did notice,from about ten feet away,that Red Wings are first,to the puck,throughout most of the game... in San Jose's zone,they were running circles,and passing the puck,with very little resistance in neutral zone,and going through the zone,with crisp passes... the Red Wings did give up three goals,but one was in last three minutes(2:32,left in game),when Red Wings had firm control,of game... i stood up,and applauded when Sharks scored the last goal,out of respect for the Sharks... i was being a true hockey fan,just not being a Red Wings' fan,at that time... both teams' passing were spectacular,and all the goals were magnificent... happy that Red Wings won game,5-3,but i am extremely disappointed,in Sharks' effort... the Red Wings did jump off to a 2-0 lead,and 3-1,and finally,the backbreaker,at 19:49,of second period,to go up,4-2,after two periods... Sharks' goaltending was rather bad,rather soft,giving up five goals,in first fifty minutes of game... Red Wings went on a four-minute double minor(two penalties called on one player,at one time)power play,and basically played keep-away,basically running out the clock... they had five goals,at that time,and was playing defense,on offense,even though they wanted to score,they knew that they had game under control,knowing that Jimmy Howard had "the game" to stop the Sharks last night... the Sharks looked beat,after second period,and Antero Niittymaki,looked like a open door,most of the game... Henrik Zetterberg scored two goals(one goal was batted by his stick,into net),and had two assists,and Pavel Datsyuk,had one goal,and an assist... Dan Cleary,and Patrick Eaves,who scored the back-breaking fourth goal,also scored goals,for Red Wings... i hate fighting(or roughing),when teams are down late,by three,or more goals,because it shows lack of guts of the team... fighting has its place in hockey,and when you are down,by three or more goals,it is a mark of a desperate team,showing up too late to make a difference... i would have expected a fight earlier in game,to show team spunk,and would have respected it more than in last eight minutes,when team is down,5-2,like the Sharks were down at time... i had to get used to the pucks hitting the glass... by the third period,i enjoyed the sound,and i loved a couple of checks that actually shook the goal light,and the boards... i honestly thought that i was going to be showered with glass... just loved it....