Happy Birthday,Cam...

Happy Birthday,Cam Ward,goaltender,of the Carolina Hurricanes... he turned 28,today...

games that do matter to Red Wings...

St. Louis Blues at Edmonton Oilers,tomorrow... at home:Edmonton is 16-11-4;on road:St. Louis is 13-13-3,so this may be tougher,on St. Louis,than it does appear on schedule,or in standings...
the Blues then play the Vancouver Canucks,on consecutive days;so good luck,St. Louis!!!!!!

game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 5,Blue Jackets 2... tied at 1,a short-handed goal,by Columbus seemed to wake up the Red Wings,who scored four goals,in 10:09,in game time,to put the Blue Jackets to sleep... Henrik Zetterberg scored game-winning goal in game... Niklas Kronwall scored tying goal,at 2,ninety seconds after Columbus scored,on same power play... Johan Franzen,and Columbus Blue Jackets' Rick Nash,both scored in first period... side story:Nash scored a hat trick,in a game,against Red Wings,and his third goal,that night,beat Red Wings,3-2,so Nash has been very good,against Detroit,in his NHL career... this is the 35th regulation win,for Red Wings,tying the St. Louis Blues,and giving second,to Red Wings,in Western Conference,and first place,in Central Division,for now... Derek MacKenzie scored short-handed goal,for Columbus,and then Joey MacDonald made a spectacular save,on another short-handed effort,to keep game tied at 2,shortly after Kronwall scored,and then Jan Mursak,and Valtteri Flippula scored insurance goals,to ice game... Red Wings' defense for the first fifty minutes,of game was not their best(in fact,it stunk),allowing their second short-handed goal,in two games,and allowing too many chances,overall... however,they finally put away a team,on the road,when they had to do it,and did it with a team that had major players out,and they did it with an offensive burst,of goals,at end of game... Nicklas Lidstrom missed only his 36th regular season game,in his ENTIRE NHL career,tonight...

Red Wings' news,and schedule...

Red Wings/Blue Jackets,tonight...
Nicklas Lidstrom out of game,with swollen ankle,but should play Friday,against Minnesota...
Lidstrom got hit with puck,during game,against Colorado Avalanche...
Joey MacDonald will start,for Red Wings,tonight,against Blue Jackets...

prayers for Beliveau...

Hockey Hall of Fame member Jean Beliveau has been hospitalized with a stroke,in a Montreal Hospital... prayers go out to his family...

Red Wings' news...

the St. Louis Blues did beat Calgary Flames,3-1,and tied Red Wings,in total points,with 85 points,but because of points percentage ratio,St. Louis gets second in Western Conference,but Red Wings have more wins(41,to 39 wins),and play Columbus Blue Jackets,tomorrow,to chance to go back into second,and,possibly,tie the Vancouver Canucks,for top seed,in NHL(they would have to lose in regulation,against Phoenix,and Red Wings win,to tie for top seed in NHL)...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings traded Mike Commodore,to Tampa Bay Lightning,for conditional 2013 7th round NHL draft pick...
Jonathan Ericsson fractured his right wrist,during second period of game,against Colorado Avalanche...
Red Wings recall Brendan Smith,from the Grand Rapids Griffiths,of the American Hockey League...

commentary...

For you die-hard Sharks' fans,San Jose lost to Minnesota,4-3,and were,2-6-1,on a just completed nine game road trip,and only three points,from the ninth-place Los Angeles Kings... i asked this question earlier,what has happened to the Sharks?... they lose tonight,by allowing two goals,in 46 seconds,with less than six minutes left,in game... i have said that San Jose gives up too many critical goals,at critical times,and they play pitiful defense around the net,and have done so,most of the season... they have time to correct this road winless streak(winning only two,of nine games),and it really stinks,but they really remind me of last year's Red Wings,in giving up goals,in front of the goaltender,and after stupid turnovers... however,the Red Wings have improved their overall defense,this year,but the Sharks have gotten much worse around the net,this season... they seem to be looking at last year,and saying that they can "turn it on",again this season... injuries do not,and have not helped the Sharks,but a playoff team fights through this particular time,and come out better,but this team gets behind,and hangs its head,in shock,and they seem to step off the gas,and allowing other teams to score,or make a real rush at the net,and lose games that they should win,or get a point... getting five,of a possible eighteen points,on the most recent road does not help the Sharks... i am not a fan of the Sharks,but are they a better team than they are showing,or are they a team with potential that does nothing,but self-destruct,and just limp,into playoffs,or are they a true championship contender who will fight,and get over this struggling period,and improve,over last year... it is up to them...

trade deadline news...

today is the day,before the NHL trade deadline,and so Rick Nash,of the Columbus Blue Jackets is the big trade bait,this year,and the New York Rangers,the Toronto Maple Leafs,San Jose Sharks,and most recently,the Nashville Predators,are among the teams mentioned,in negotiating,with the Blue Jackets,about trading for Nash... however,the Blue Jackets want so much,from a team,because Nash is the only marquee player,and the face,of the franchise(Blue Jackets)....

commentary...

the San Jose Sharks lost to the Nashville Predators,6-2,and looked bad in doing it... as of right now,they are in second in Pacific Division,behind the Phoenix Coyotes,and seventh,in the Western Conference,and are falling in the conference... Phoenix beat the Edmonton Oilers,3-1... question:what has happened to the Sharks? they really stink,and have given up too many goals,recently,and losing to the Columbus Blue Jackets in their game,6-3,and then beating the Toronto Maple Leafs,2-1,and then laying a big EGG tonight,against Nashville,in losing,6-2(being out-scored,13-7,in the last three games),does not bode well,with their goaltending(giving up an average of four goals plus,a game)... i may not like the Sharks,but i am very concerned with their overall team,because they really,and simply stink,and pundits have said that goaltending may be their strength,and yet,they give up too many goals,overall,and playoff teams do not give up that many goals,in a seven game series... their overall defense around the net is just terrible,and yet,pundits still think that the Sharks will round into playoff shape,which may still happen... if they do not improve,overall,they will be looking at the playoffs,from San Jose,instead of first round success,and a possible run at Stanley Cup... i have told you that the Sharks traded away too much grit,especially a supreme pest,in Devin Setoguchi,to Minnesota,thinking being a finesse team,like the Red Wings,was bought,not earned,but Red Wings does have enough grit,toughness,and talent to compete for the Stanley Cup,at least for the last 21 seasons,including this season...

game score,and commentary...

Avalanche 4,Red Wings 3... Red Wings seemed a step slow,all night,giving up four goals,with very lousy defense around their net... all four goals,by Colorado,were point blank on Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard,or into an empty net(with Howard out of position)... Avalanche had two goals,by Gabriel Landeskrog(both point blank,in front of Howard),and winning goal,by Steve Downie,on a tic-tac-toe pass,in front of Howard,who basically got hung out to dry,in the wind,by Red Wings,all night long... player of game,for Red Wings,was Jiri Hudler,this night,who scored two goals,but,honestly,everybody else stunk,tonight...

game in progress...

Avalanche 2,Red Wings 0... through the first 26 minutes of the game with Colorado,Detroit has basically sleepwalked through the game,giving up two goals,in 1:07,within the first two minutes of game,including a short-handed goal... so far,an ugly game...

Happy Birthday,Justin...

Happy Birthday,Justin Abdelkader,today,who turns 25...

schedule...

Colorado Avalanche/Red Wings,tonight...

trivia...

what Red Wings' Hockey Hall of Fame member became the first Red Wings' player,to score 50+ goals,in three consecutive seasons,and on what day did he accomplish the feat?... answer:Steve Yzerman,on February,24,1990(22 years ago,today)...

game score,and commentary...

Vancouver Canucks 4,Red Wings 3,shootout loss...NHL record is 23 straight home wins,by the Red Wings... playoff-type intensity,tonight... both teams played very well... Vancouver tied game,with sixteen seconds,left,in regulation,at three... i now know why Red Wings are very good,and Vancouver is just as good... both goaltenders made saves that were spectacular... Roberto Luongo,and Jimmy Howard played on their heads,for their teams... shame,someone has got to lose,tonight... Darren Helm,Kyle Quincey,and Justin Abdelkader scored for the Red Wings... Daniel Sedin scored twice,including a perfect shot goal,with sixteen seconds left,in regulation,along with Cody Hodgson,for the Canucks,and Alexandre Burrows scored the only shootout goal,for the Canucks... no one's perfect,and the Red Wings stay on the top of the NHL,with an good hard-fought point,and it was a great game....

Red Wings' news,and schedule...

Red Wings sign Todd Bertuzzi,to two year contract extension...
Vancouver Canucks/Red Wings,tonight... top two teams,in Western Conference,and NHL,play tonight,and a 23 game home winning streak,on line...

score that matter to the Red Wings...

Boston Bruins 4,St. Louis Blues 2...

a Red Wings' great's birthday...

Hockey legend,and Red Wings' great Sid Abel was born on this date,in 1918,in Melville,Saskatchewan...

trouble in San Jose...

for your information,the San Jose Sharks are on a nine game road trip,and have won only once on trip,with three games to go,on the trip... they are falling in Western Conference standings(being tied with Phoenix,right now,in Pacific Division)... if they fall to second,in division,they will fall to seventh in conference,and then in a real dogfight,for a playoff spot...

scores that do matter...

Columbus Blue Jackets 6,San Jose Sharks 3... Columbus is the worst team,in NHL,so Sharks should be embarrassed,with this loss...
Phoenix Coyotes 5,Los Angeles Kings 4,shootout win...
San Jose has 3rd in Western Conference,because of total wins,but Phoenix is tied,in total points,with San Jose,with 69 points,in Pacific Division...

score that matter to the Red Wings...

Nashville Predators 3,Vancouver Canucks 1...

game score,and comment...

Blackhawks 2,Red Wings 1... difference in game was better puck control,by Corey Crawford,than Jimmy Howard,on rebounds... both Chicago goals scored were within three feet(basic tap-ins),on lousy rebound control,by Howard,and Red Wings really did miss Pavel Datsyuk,around the net... typical Red Wings/Blackhawks game... season series tied at two...

Red Wings' news...

Kyle Quincey has been acquired by the Red Wings,in a three team trade,with the Tampa Bay Lightning,and the Colorado Avalanche...

commentary...

during the Philadelphia Flyers' annual Wives Fight for Lives Carnival,Lauren Pronger,wife of Captain Chris Pronger,said,as an update,on her husband's battle with concussion-like symptoms,"there is very little change...",noting that Pronger is talking to former Flyers' player,Keith Primeau,whose NHL career ended in 2006,because of post-concussion syndrome,and also saying that her husband is "really scared",and that is a battle to recover,from a severe concussion,and he is taking day to day,trying to figure on how to cope with this... to Chris Pronger,who i got mad at about his antics on ice,i say,deeply,that i hope he recovers 100%,because it is one injury that it takes time to get over,and if he can not play,and has to retire,i hope that he has a great life,outside hockey... hopefully,he will be around the NHL,as a consultant,or some other post,with the Flyers,because his knowledge about hockey,is absolutely priceless...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings' head coach Mike Babcock said,in updating Pavel Datsyuk,"he has a fragment in his knee,an old thing,and we wanted to clear up,prior to playoff time"(his exact quote,not mine)... Datsyuk should be out two weeks...

Breaking news...

Pavel Datsyuk,of the Red Wings,had some arthroscopic knee surgery,this morning,and is out for two weeks...

AHL,and ECHL update...

after 50 games,the Grand Rapids Griffiths,are 20-21-5-4(last place),in the North Division,of the Western Conference,seventeen points,behind the Toronto Marlies...
after 51 games,the Toledo Walleye,of the East Coast Hockey League,are 23-24-2-2(last place),fourteen points,behind the Kalamazoo Wings,in the North Division,of the Eastern Conference... Chicago Blackhawks,and Detroit Red Wings share sending players down to Toledo...
as a side note:there are two ECHL teams in California:the Stockton Thunder,and the Bakersfield Condors... both teams trail badly,in the Pacific Division,the Las Vegas Wranglers,and the Ontario Reign,who are two points apart,right now...

commentary...

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Don Cherry,who people see most Saturdays,on Hockey Night in Canada,said that the Red Wings are not tough,because they simply do not fight,in games... he noted that the New York Rangers,who lead the NHL,in fighting majors,but are behind the Red Wings,in total points,and he mentioned the Boston Bruins,who he coached,in the 1970's... sometimes,he misses the point of fighting majors... most of the time, they are used to give the team momentum,if down a goal,or two,and sometimes they are done,between players,who are just known to fight,and they go at it very very early,to just do it... it(fighting)has been done right off the opening puck drop,and people tend to love it... my opinion:Cherry,who can be a blowhard,is an advocate,for player safety(concussions,and such)just stepped into a pile of it,because the Red Wings may not fight(they are tied for last,with thirteen fighting majors,with the Carolina Hurricanes),but they will fight,if pushed,and still beat your team,quite handily... i agree with Cherry about player safety,which should be improved,but Don,you may not like the Red Wings,and you tend to "worship" the Toronto Maple Leafs,or even the Bruins,a little too much(CBC almost always has the Maple Leafs playing,and until recently,losing,on HNIC)... Don,just try to be a little more balanced in your commentary... by the way,if you think i am not balanced,in my blogs,let me remind you that my blogs are mostly a Red Wings' blog,and i have a Green Bay Packers' blog,but on this blog,i talk about the beautiful game of hockey,but with a Red Wings' tilt,but i do really criticize the Red Wings,when they need it,like their middling road record,with 15-15-1,it should improve,but the Red Wings have basically stunk on the road,this season... they have improved lately,on the road,but the record is what the record is,people,and it is not too good,period...

schedule and comments...

Red Wings/Blackhawks,round four,tomorrow... bitter enemies clash,with Blackhawks,thirteen points,out of Central Division lead,and Vancouver Canucks,only two points,behind Red Wings,for tops in Western Conference,and NHL... both teams need a win....

Red Wings' history,and trivia...

in the 2003 playoffs,Anaheim Mighty Ducks,coached by current Red Wings' head coach,Mike Babcock,swept Red Wings,in four games... Red Wings were the defending Stanley Cup Champions,at that time... trivia:before that year,when was the last time that a defending Stanley Cup Champion got swept out of playoffs? answer:1952,when Red Wings swept the Toronto Maple Leafs...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings waive goaltender Ty Conklin... if not picked up,by any other team,in NHL,by tomorrow,he will go to Grand Rapids(American Hockey League)...

correction...

the first player to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame,as a Montreal Expo,was Gary Carter... the Montreal Canadiens honored him,with a pre-game ceremony... i got emotional,and forgot his name in last commentary... sorry,folks...

commentary...

this is a story about the City of Montreal,and the first player who entered the Baseball Hall of Fame,as a Montreal Expo... the Canadiens honored his memory,with a very sweet pre-game ceremony,before their game,today... in his time,as an Expo,he may have been one of the best catchers,in the National League... i still deeply remember the Expos,coming from Montreal,to play the San Francisco Giants,and i was very,very sad when the team left Montreal... during 1994,before the cancellation of that World Series,the best team in the Major Leagues,without a doubt,was the Montreal Expos,and i still find very shameful that the best Montreal Expo team,of all-time,never got their chance to show Montreal,and Major League Baseball their championship mettle,in that year's playoffs... Carter was a very big supporter of the City of Montreal,and showed up a few times,at Canadiens' games... they retired his number 8,in Montreal... during the pre-game ceremony,the Expos' mascot,Youppi,who was adopted by the Canadiens,after the Expos left,came out on the ice,and just stood silently,in his old Expos' shirt,and when the team asked the crowd for a moment of silence,you could hear a pin drop...

commentary...

the Sharks have lost two in a row,and have struggled to score,at critical times,and have allowed critical goals,at bad times,in games,but they do have explosive players,but honestly,if they do not start winning games,and get on a roll,they will be in serious trouble of not making the playoffs... the Blackhawks have had the same trouble,as San Jose,as they can score,like not many teams,but they give up too many critical goals,and play teams at their level,which is not a good thing,at all,when it comes down to playing playoff hockey,which is coming up sooner than people realize,and the Sharks have time to improve,but they better get their thumbs out of their rear ends,and stop admiring their past work,over the last two seasons(Western Conference finalists,and have beaten the Red Wings,both years,i hate to admit),but this year,the Sharks are two years older,as a team,and not the same team as the last two years,which goes back to the Sharks' front office putting this team together,and they traded goals for goals,and eliminated a little more grit than was necessary... when they scored two goals,against Red Wings,today(one was a Red Wings' own goal,and the other was swatted in from three feet away,from the Red Wings' net),that told me a great deal,because if you hold the Sharks to the outside of the defensive zone,and do not allow them to crash the net,the Sharks are beatable,and playoff teams do not allow too many chances to go down "the slot"(space in between the circles,in front of net)too often... the Red Wings are a puck possession team,who can really pass the puck quite neatly,and that is what playoff teams do... the Sharks have a two point lead on the Phoenix Coyotes,and two other teams(Los Angeles Kings,and Dallas Statrs)are four points,and five points,respectively,behind the Sharks,and the eighth place Calgary Flames,are only four points,behind the Sharks,so San Jose has very little room,to even miss the playoffs,altogether,if they do not stop admiring themselves in the mirror,of the last two seasons,because they are not the same team,that they were,in the last two seasons,and who do they blame,this year? no one,and only themselves... i am afraid that there will be changes in front office,and maybe,with the head coach,which,honestly,would be the biggest mistake that the Sharks could make in their history,but changes are coming up,for the Sharks,if the Sharks do not improve this year...

game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 3,Sharks 2... perfect six game homestand... twenty three straight home wins... San Jose,overall,did not play well... the two San Jose goals were scored by Logan Couture,on a Detroit own goal,when the puck was tipped,into the air,and onto the Red Wings' net... when it dropped onto ice it was hit into the net with a Red Wings' player's glove,before it hit the ice,and Patrick Marleau,when the puck bounced off Joey MacDonald's left leg,sat by his knee,and was slapped in by Marleau,from three feet... the difference in this game,and the others played by these teams,in the recent past,was the Red Wings allowed very few odd-man rushes,and made very few mistakes,in their defensive zone... Henrik Zetterberg,Drew Miller,and Darren Helm scored for the Red Wings... not their best game,could nit-pick,but a win is a win,and after the frustrations that the Red Wings have had with the Sharks over the last couple of years,they did deserve to win this game,because they simply played better than the Sharks,today... maybe the Red Wings will meet the Sharks in the playoffs,again... this time,maybe they may be the better team....

game score that unique thing happened,in game...

Matt Cooke scored a very rare 3 on 5 goal,as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers,6-4... the Penguins scored two short-handed goals,today,in the game...

"Mr. Hockey",and his trivia...

on this day,in 1971,"Mr. Hockey",and Hockey Hall of Fame member,Gordie Howe,scored his 20th goal,which does not mean much,in one season,but Howe had 22 seasons,of 20+ goals,in a season... he had 801 NHL goals,in his career... he retired after that season,jumped to the World Hockey Association,and was on the Hartford Whalers' roster,when they joined the NHL,in 1979-1980...

game score,and comment...

Red Wings 2,Predators 1... Pavel Datsyuk scored at 19:54,of the third period,as Red Wings win their 40th game,and 22nd straight,at home... Henrik Zetterberg had his 600th career NHL point,with an assist,on the winning goal... I JUMPED OUT OF MY CHAIR,AND SAID,OH MY GOD!!!!!,when goal went in....

schedule...

Nashville Predators/Red Wings,tonight...

Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!!

Happy Anniversary to my Dad,and Patricia!!!!!!!

current Central Division standings...

Detroit Red Wings,39-17-2,80 points...
St. Louis Blues,34-15-7.75 points...
Nashville Predators,33-18-6,72 points...
Chicago Blackhawks,29-21-7,65 points...
Columbus Blue Jackets,17-34-6,40 points...

commentary...

as i type this,the Red Wings lead NHL,with 80 points(39-17-2),have a home record of,24-2-1,and yet only a road record,of 15-15-1,which does suck,for some reason... last year,their home record was 21-14-6,basically,they had a better road record,last year... i guess that Mike Babcock(Red Wings' head coach)got it in the players' heads to tighten their defense,overall... i just wish that they would straighten out the road record,so then they would be more dangerous on the road(in opponent's barns)... maybe they will,and the Red Wings do have a lot of cap room,so expect the Red Wings,and general manager Ken Holland,to get some help,if they need it,on the trading deadline... Normally,the Red Wings are up against the cap limit,so they can not do much,but this is the reason that i call the Red Wings' front office,the best in NHL,because they seem to find ways to improve every year(example:20 straight playoff years,going on 21,and four Stanley Cups,in that time)... the pundits did say that coming out of the 2005 NHL lost season,that the Red Wings were the one team that would be the hurt the most(talking about age,and financially)... however,the Red Wings made the playoffs that year,and won 2008 Stanley Cup,and came within a great glove save(by Marc-Andre Fleury,of the Pittsburgh Penguins),off a shot by Nicklas Lidstrom,of sending game 7,into overtime,in 2009...

NHL history,and commentary.......

Red Wings 3,Stars 1... two goals,by Henrik Zetterberg,and Brad Stuart,1:18 apart,in first period,was all the Red Wings needed... the Red Wings played defense,tonight,the way they played defense,in 2008,the year that they last won Stanley Cup... it was almost like i was watching a taped game,from 2008... they had twenty shots,in first period,and allowed Dallas only TWENTY ONE shots,in entire game,ten shots,in first period,six shots in second period,and only five in third period,and i believe that they had one shot on goal,for the first 17 minutes,of the final period... only a puck off a skate,in last 33 seconds into goal,ruined shutout,for Joey MacDonald.who made a save,late in the second period,that may have been the best save in NHL,this week,if not this year,for the Red Wings... Jiri Hudler added an insurance goal,at 15:11,of the third period,to ice game(a 3-0 lead),because the way that the Wings played defense,tonight,the only way that the Stars would win game after that goal,was if Red Wings were,as a team,to drop totally dead,on ice,and still the Stars would have lost game(laughing)... thought that would make you laugh....

NHL HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!

the 2011-2012 Detroit Red Wings are the holders,of the longest HOME winning streak,in NHL history,at 21 games,with a 3-1 win,over the Dallas Stars...

NHL news...

NHL has expanded game access overseas,in contracts,through Hockey TV,in the nation of Georgia,and on Sport TV,in Slovenia,with access,in the former Yugoslavia(Serbia,Bosnia,and Herzegovina,Montenegro,and Croatia)...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings' head coach Mike Babcock has told coaching staff,to put goaltender Jimmy Howard,to start game,against San Jose Sharks,on Sunday,"but in pencil"... like i said earlier,there is a possibility that he could start,against Nashville,on Friday,because he is practicing,with a regular goaltender stick....

commentaries on last three games...

Red Wings 4,Edmonton Oilers 2... what is wrong with the Oilers is simple? even though,Sam Gagner has scored four goals,against the Red Wings,in last two games,nobody else has had a sniff at the net,in a major offensive way,against Red Wings... Gagner is on a major roll,but even since his eight point night,against Chicago(boo hoo,for that,ha ha!!!!!!),the Oilers,basically,have been an one man team offensively,and that was not going to beat the Red Wings,this night... Johan Franzen and Cory Emmerton,scored in first period,and second period,respectively,then Gagner scored two goals(second period,and early in third period)to tie game,at two,but the Red Wings dominated the second half,of the third period,with Drew Miller,and Henrik Zetterberg scoring 3:58,apart to close out the Oilers,and win their 18th straight home game,in a row...
Red Wings 2, Ducks 1,shootout win... this game was simply nasty,and Anaheim tried to rough up the Red Wings,by baiting them into tough,and rough stuff... George Parros,who is more known as a fighter,than a scorer,scored the Ducks' lone goal,by directing the puck past Joey MacDonald,off a skate,and then Justin Abdelkader,of the Red Wings,scored 2:25 later,to tie game,at one,in the first period... that was all the scoring,in the game,until the shootout,when Todd Bertuzzi flipped a backhand shot,over Ducks' goaltender Jonas Hiller,to end game... both Hiller,and MacDonald had outstanding games,but the Red Wings had more patience,because of the rough stuff throughout the game,and the Ducks took too many penalties,and did not play their usual good game(shooting pucks,and playing conservatively,hoping for Red Wings' mistakes)... there were very few Red Wings' mistakes to take advantage of,and even though the game went to a shootout,Joey Mac Donald was stellar,in shoootout,for win number 19,in a row,at home...
Red Wings 4,Flyers 3... this game had a feel of a playoff game... both teams were ready to play at puck drop,and both teams did not give an inch,and fought to win the battles,and game... Niklas Kronwall scored first,for an one-nil lead,for the Red Wings,then Brayden Schenn scored twice,to tie game at one,at end of first period,then scored early in second period to give a 2-1 lead,but Red Wings traded goals,with Pavel Datsyuk,and Henrik Zetterberg scoring goals,with Max Talbot,for the Flyers scoring in between the two second period Red Wings' goals,to tie game,at three,going into third period... the Red Wings were on the power play early in third period(they scored two power play goals,in game),when Johan Franzen scored game-winner,52 seconds into third period... the rest of the game was very tightly fought,but clean,with Joey MacDonald coming up very big,in goal,with Red Wings playing playoff-type defense,as they kept the Flyers on the fringe,of their defensive zone,and blocking all ten of the Flyers' shots,for win number 20,in a row,at home...

schedule update...

Dallas Stars/Red Wings,today
Nashville Predators/Red Wings,Friday
San Jose Sharks/Red Wings,Sunday morning

special benefit sale,for Red Wings' families...

Red Wings will hold a special benefit sale,selling their game-worn sweaters from yesterday's game,against the Philadelphia Flyers... every sweater will have a commemorative patch,noting the 7 September 2011 KHL Lokomotiv Jaroslavl plane crash... the sale will benefit the three Red Wings' families,who lost members of their families,that horrible day...

Red Wings' trivia...

as of now,when was the last time Red Wings lost at home? answer:they lost November 3rd,to Calgary,4-1,in a very lackluster effort-filled game...

stat of streak...

during his 17 games starting(and winning),in Red Wings' 20 game home winning streak,Jimmy Howard gave up 24 goals(414 saves,of 438 shots-.945 save percentage,and a 1.41 G.A.A.-goals against average,and four shutouts)... outstanding numbers... he broke finger,but he is prepping for playing,against Nashville Predators,on Friday....

NHL news...

NHL suspended Philadelphia Flyers' Zac Rinaldo two games,for launching himself(leaving his feet,when hitting),when he hit Red Wings' Jonathan Ericsson,during Red Wings' 4-3 win,last night....

jabs to Chicago...

the Chicago Blackhawks have lost eight games in a row,and have sucked throughout the miserable streak;have not won since January 20th,and they seem not to stop,shoot,the puck,or play good defense... questions to Chicago:do you want to go down to the last day of the season,before making the NHL playoffs,and do you think you can just "turn it on",and play great hockey? clock is ticking,season is ebbing,and your team is dropping in the Western Conference... 2010,when your team won Stanley Cup,is a long way off,and the way that you are playing,your team stinks,as of right now... (this post is updated from a deleted post,put on wrong blog,on February 8th,2012)

statement from author...

to the people who read my blog almost daily,i have to apologize for the days off,but the last two months had been horrible,so i took off some time,this past week,and just got out of town,but i am back...

Red Wings' news...

Nicklas Lidstrom played in his 1,550th game,second on Red Wings' game played list,behind only "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe,who played in 1,687 games,with the Red Wings...

now there are three teams...

Red Wings beat Philadelphia,4-3,to tie longest home win streak,at 20 games,joining 1975-1976 Philadelphia Flyers,and 1929-1930 Boston Bruins,in NHL history...

congrats,Owen...

Owen Nolan announced his retirement from the NHL,today... he played for seven NHL teams(Quebec Nordiques,Colorado Avalanche,San Jose Sharks,Toronto Maple Leafs,Phoenix Coyotes,Calgary Flames,and Minnesota Wild),and i admired him greatly,as a tough player,but with a great touch,and shot around the net... congrats,Owen,for a great NHL career!!!!

commentary...

the Chicago Blackhawks are fourth in the Central Division,and sixth now,in Western Conference,because,in two trips to Western Canada,they are 1-4-1,against Calgary Flames,Vancouver Canucks,and Edmonton Oilers,including a 8-4 shellacking,to the Edmonton Oilers,in which Sam Gagner got eight points,in that game,and they suffered a humbling 3-1 loss,to the Calgary Flames... they now go on a six game road trip,cutting it into two three game road trips,but their goaltending,and defense,along with their offense are not running on all cylinders... lately,they have struggled,and if they do not start putting things together,soon,they are in danger of not making the NHL playoffs... question to Chicago,do you want to go down the same road,as last year,when you had to sweat out,literally,the last game(number 1,230)of the season,before making the NHL playoffs?

game score,and commentary...

Coyotes 3,Red Wings 1... another team that had lost seven straight to Red Wings,going back to a sweep of Coyotes,in playoffs,last season,beat Red Wings tonight... just not their night,at all... first goal of the Coyotes was a short-handed goal,when two Red Wings collided with each other(in last seconds of Detroit power play),puck went south,and Red Wings went down in a heap,and Phoenix had an one man breakaway,and Red Wings seemed to be a step slow,most of the night... this game ends a 31 game stretch,in which Red Wings had 21 road games,so they could have been tired.... no excuses,just a very bad sloppy game...

comment...

Red Wings really should be a player in trade deadline politics,getting some good players,at trade deadline,because they are way under the salary cap this year,so the Red Wings should get better,after trade deadline... watch out,NHL!!!!!

schedule...

Red Wings/Phoenix Coyotes,tonight... next up,six game homestand,starts Wednesday...

injury update...

Red Wings' Dan Cleary has a Baker's Cyst behind his left knee,and have it examined after the game with the Phoenix Coyotes,in Detroit,early this week....

current Central Division standings...

Detroit Red Wings-72 points-35-16-2
Nashville Predators-68 points-32-17-4
St. Louis Blues-67 points-30-14-7
Chicago Blackhawks-65 points-29-17-7
Columbus Blue Jackets-34 points-14-32-6...

score that matter to the Red Wings...

Predators 3,Blues 1... simply put,Predators' goaltender Pekka Rinne was simply the best player on the ice,making some spectacular saves,against St. Louis,last night,that other goaltenders would,or could,not make at all... simply said,he has the best reflexes that i have seen in a goaltender,in many a year...

game score,and commentary...

Oilers 5,Red Wings 4,shootout loss... wild game tonight!!!!! Red Wings played great defense for last two periods,but Edmonton scored two goals in the last minute,of periods-at 19:59,of first period,and 19:39,of the third period,to tie game at four,after Red Wings scored three straight goals,in third period,to take a 4-3 lead in game... Todd Bertuzzi scored two goals(his 300th,and 301st goals),to claim a 4-3 lead,for the Red Wings,but they could not hold lead,in regulation... Joey MacDonald came in for Ty Conklin,in goal,after first period... first loss in shootout,this season,but after the start of game for Red Wings,they got a big point,and increased their division lead,over St. Louis Blues,who lost,3-1,earlier in the night,in Nashville,to the Predators...

game in progress...

Oilers 3,Red Wings 1... after one period,Sam Gagner has two more goals,and assist,in first period,including a goal with 0.5 second left,in period... it was only seconds after Edmonton put one in its own net,off a Oilers' skate,credited to Valtteri Flippula... that makes it eleven points in last three periods(six goals,and five assists),of game play... if you are wondering why i say,"in last three periods",because Gagner did not have a point,against Chicago,until the last 38 minutes,of game(that historic night)... Gagner has had a part in last eleven Edmonton goals... normally,Edmonton may be a so-so team,but in Red Wings'-Oilers' history,they have always played the Red Wings very tough,so this score is no surprise to me...

correction,and NHL history...

as you may notice in correct list of eight point nights,by NHL players,Mario Lemieux of the Penguins,was the last player,to have eight points in a regular season game,before Sam Gagner,had eight points,in game,against Chicago Blackhawks,in a 8-4 Edmonton Oilers' win,on February 2,2012... Lemieux did it thirty days,after Bernie Nicholls,of the Los Angeles Kings,on December 31,1988... side note:Nicholls scored 70 goals,and had 150 points,in 1988-1989 season,becoming one of eight players,in NHL history,to get 70 goals,in a season,and it did not hurt to have Wayne Gretzky,as a teammate,as Gretzky was traded to Los Angeles,from Edmonton,before the 1988-1989 season...

correct list of eight point nights,by NHL players...

sorry,folks,i hate mistakes...
Maurice Richard-Montreal Canadiens-December 28,1944
Bert Olmstead-Montreal Canadiens-January 9,1954
Darryl Sittler-Toronto Maple Leafs-ten points vs. Boston Bruins-February 7,1976
Tom Bladon-Philadelphia Flyers-December 11,1977
Bryan Trottier-New York Islanders-December 23,1978
Anton Stastny,and Peter Stastny-Quebec Nordiques-February 22,1981
Wayne Gretzky-Edmonton Oilers-November 19,1983,and January 4,1984
Paul Coffey-Edmonton Oilers-March 14,1986
Mario Lemieux-Pittsburgh Penguins-October 15,1988,and December 31,1988
Bernie Nicholls-Los Angeles Kings-December 1,1988
Sam Gagner-Edmonton Oilers-February 2,2012


there are two players who have done that,in a playoff game:
Patrik Sundstrom-New Jersey Devils-April 22,1988
Mario Lemieux-Pittsburgh Penguins-April 15,1989

correction...

the last time a NHL player got eight points,in a game,was Bernie Nicholls,of the Los Angeles Kings,was in 1988-1989 season... exact facts forthcoming,if i can find them... someone at NHL.com does not update facts,in some articles...

commentary...

Red Wings are 15-14,so far,on the road,but have won seven of their last eleven games,on the road,so Red Wings are heating up on the road,which is bad for everyone else,in NHL... the power play has been anemic most of the year,but the Red Wings have too much talent to be that anemic all year,so if you believe that the Red Wings are not going to get better through the rest of regular season,you are mistaken... like i said last year,the Red Wings are going to be tough to beat in the playoffs... ask San Jose?

schedule...

Red Wings/Edmonton Oilers,tomorrow...
Red Wings/Phoenix Coyotes,Monday...

update on Jimmy Howard...

Red Wings' Jimmy Howard broke tip of index finger,on his blocker hand,on a close range shot,by Maxim LaPerriere,in third period,last night,against Vancouver... the Red Wings start a six game homestand,next Wednesday,against Edmonton... checkup on the finger's condition will be when Red Wings get home,from Phoenix...

NHL history...

Sam Gagner had an eight point night,as Edmonton Oilers beat the Chicago Blackhawks,8-4,last night... first time,since Wayne Gretzky did it,on January 4,1984,against the Minnesota North Stars,and the first to do it,with a sub-.500,since Peter,and Anton Stastny both did it on same night,in a 11-7 rout,of the Washington Capitals,on February 22,1981... only Mario Lemieux,of the Pittsburgh Penguins,who got eight points,in a game,in a 8-6 win,over the New Jersey Devils,on December 31,1986,had gotten eight points(in a game with eight goals,scored by team),before Gagner did it,last night... next Tuesday is the 36th anniversary,of Darryl Sittler's ten point night,for Toronto Maple Leafs,against Boston,on February 7,1976... side note- i noted in an earlier post,some time ago,the game that Sittler had his ten point night,was against Philadelphia,not Boston... i stand corrected... sorry,folks!!!!

pathetic stat,of season...

Columbus Blue Jackets are 1-20-1,when trailing after two periods...

Breaking news(no pun intended)...

Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard will miss the two remaining games,on current road trip(Edmonton,and Phoenix),because he broke a finger,during third period,of Vancouver's game,with Red Wings,last night... how long he will sit will be determined after the road trip...

game score,and comment...

Red Wings 4,Canucks 3,shootout win... six for six,in shootout,this season,so far... commentary,tomorrow morning...

Happy Birthday,Todd...

Todd Bertuzzi turns 37 years old,today...

trivia...

on January 3,1944,Syd Howe(no relation to Gordie Howe)scored six goals,in a 12-2 Red Wings' thrashing of the New York Rangers,at Olympia Stadium...

Red Wings' schedule...

Red Wings/Vancouver Canucks,tonight... tied 1-1,for season series... each team winning on home ice... a Red Wings' 2-0 victory,October 13,at Joe Louis Arena,and a 4-2 Canucks' victory,December 21st,in Vancouver...

commentary...

Red Wings wore down Calgary in third period,and scored two goals midway through period,to win game,3-1... the Flames have had trouble scoring goals recently,and even though it was a physical game,Jimmy Howard was very good in goal,for his 31st win of season,and even though Calgary scored a goal,they did very little,in their offensive zone(Red Wings' defensive zone)around Howard,and the Red Wings' defense was superb,but the ice was choppy,and was not good ice to skate on,because both teams over-skated the puck throughout the game... the Red Wings have won eight of their last nine games,and lead NHL,with 34 wins...

NHL news...

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby has a "soft tissue" injury,to his neck,either connected to the concussion,suffered last season,or to the eight games played this season(Doctors do not know when he suffered injury),and had no timetable,for return to the ice...