commentary...

Nicklas Lidstrom is playing in his 1,515th regular season game,as a Red Wings' player(third on all-time list,for the Red Wings),behind Gordie Howe(1,767 games),and Alex Delvecchio(1,549 games),including playoffs,he is second in games played,with 1,773 games,behind Howe,who played 1,924 games,as a member of the Red Wings(Howe played several years in the World Hockey Association,with the Houston Aeros,and the New England Whalers,then played in Hartford,in 1979-1980,when NHL absorbed four teams,into the NHL)... the four teams absorbed into the NHL were the Edmonton Oilers,the original Winnipeg Jets,the now-defunct Quebec Nordiques,and Hartford Whalers(who moved to Carolina,as the Hurricanes)... you can still see some fans in Carolina wearing the Whalers'(or the Whale,as people,in Hartford,fondly remember them)sweaters...