1,000 points for Ray...

Ray Whitney,of the Phoenix Coyotes,became the 79th player,in NHL history,to score 1,000 points... Whitney won the Stanley Cup,with Carolina Hurricanes,in 2005-2006(the first year,after NHL lockout)... a real class act!!!!!!! congratulations to him...

big win...

San Jose Sharks 3,Dallas Stars 0... Sharks,4-0-1,against Stars,this season;however,biggest game,against the Stars is next one,in Dallas,because of momentum of the team,... Joe Pavelski scored twice,and San Jose is one point behind Los Angeles Kings,are in eighth place,one point behind Phoenix Coyotes,who are tied with the Kings,but are in seventh place,and one point ahead of the Stars...
Los Angeles Kings-91 points...
Phoenix Coyotes-91 points...
San Jose Sharks-90 points...
Dallas Stars-89 points...*
*Pacific Division Standings(as of right now)...

score that matter to the Red Wings...

Chicago Blackhawks 5,Nashville Predators 4... big help to Red Wings,overall,in standings...

Happy Birthday,Mr. Hockey...

Happy Birthday,Mr.Hockey!!!!!! Gordie Howe turns 84 today!!!!!!! he still can be seen in the Red Wings' locker room,at times,today... as a custom,for retired players,the Red Wings still have a locker for him in their locker room,to this day...

just the facts,ma'am...

"Jack Friday":the facts are these:the Sharks are 20-13-10,in one goal games(good enough,for 21st in NHL,this season),and last season,they were 21-9-9,in one goal games... last year,they scored 243 goals,and they are on pace,to score 213 goals,this season,a 30 goal drop-off,from last season... the two players they traded to the Minnesota Wild:Dany Heatley,and Devin Setoguchi scored 48 goals,last season,and the two players they received,from the Minnesota Wild:Brent Burns,and Martin Havlat have scored just 17 goals,this season(so far),a 31 goal drop-off,from last season...
that trade was supposed to improve defense significantly,but the Sharks had given up an average of 2.54 goals/game,last season,but this season,they have given up an average,of 2.51 goals/game,only a .03 percent improvement,from last season...
i honestly do not blame the players,as much as i blame the front office,who seem to have no clue,on how to put a team that consistently wins,on the ice,this season...
they still have their season's destiny,in their hands,by winning their last four games,of this season,and to tell you the truth,they need to do it....

game score,and commentary...

Predators 4,Red Wings 1... simply got out-played,by Nashville,and goaltender,Pekka Rinne,who made a spectacular glove save,on Henrik Zetterberg,while Red Wings were down,1-0,and on power play,and that was the turning point,in game,because Nashville scored their second goal,shortly thereafter,so Red Wings just got beat,and Pekka Rinne had a great "stone wall" game,against Detroit,but one good thing was that the Detroit lone goal,was played with a great pass,to the side,of Rinne,and then popped over the glove,by Jiri Hudler... you can beat Pekka Rinne,if you can get him to move around,but the Red Wings' shots were mostly right at him,and no people in front... bad ice,in front of both goals cost Red Wings this game,because of bad bounces of puck,and in fact,it cost them the second goal,because of a scrum that cost the puck to squirt out,and puck went out to a Predator,and was lifted into net,past Howard... Red Wings just got beat by a better team tonight... it looks like that they will see the Predators,in first round,of Stanley Cup playoffs...

reminder...

tomorrow is "Mr. Hockey",Gordie Howe's 84th birthday... will note it properly tomorrow,but i did not want to forget about it...

disappointments of the NHL season...

as for the NHL,the biggest disappointment of the entire season has been:in the Eastern Conference,the Washington Capitals... they stocked up in the off-season,on free agents,and won their first seven games,including a 7-1 stomping of the Detroit Red Wings,but since then,they have gone 32-31-8,and are in ninth place(tied with Buffalo Sabres,for eighth),and four points,behind Florida Panthers,for Southeast Division lead,but they have first tiebreaker(regulation/overtime wins),if they catch the Panthers,so they have a good chance to be in the Stanley Cup playoffs,but their overall team(goaltending,and defense)has been shaky,at times...
in the Western Conference:the San Jose Sharks.... they have stocked up with players that seem to be individual stars,and a goaltender,who has won a Stanley Cup,and yet,they have been a dilemma,wrapped in an enigma,most of the year,because they have given some bad,soft,and,at times,very critical goals late in games,and have only 31 regulation/overtime wins... every team ahead of them have,at least,32 regulation/overtime wins(they are also ninth),but only one point,behind the Dallas Stars,in the very tight Pacific Division... they play Dallas,in a home and home series,and then they play Los Angeles Kings,who is eighth(and tied with the Sharks),but have a game in hand,on the Sharks,in a home,and home series to end season... magic number right now,for the Sharks,is the number 31(number of regulation/overtime wins),because at end of the season,if they are tied with any team(right now),in top eight,they lose out of the higher seeding,and if they are tied for sixth,seventh,or eighth,they get the lower seed,which means if they are tied for eighth,at end of season,they will not be in the Stanley Cup playoffs... those are the facts,and nothing,but the facts...

correction...

OOPS! the Sharks wimped out,against Phoenix,tonight,2-0,not 3-0... to be shut out shows no character,in my opinion...

what team will show up???

i may be wrong:when the San Jose Sharks had two games in two days,yesterday morning,i honestly thought the Sharks had a set,and win,against the Anaheim Ducks:they lost,3-1,and then they go out,and wimp out,in a loss,3-0,to the Phoenix Coyotes... anyone,tell me what happened,to this team? they need to win both home and home series,to get to the Stanley Cup playoffs,against the Dallas Stars,and the Los Angeles Kings... GOOD LUCK,SHARKS!!!!!!! (laughing)

comment...

Brad McCrimmon was born March 29,1959,and died September 7,2011,in the KHL Lokomotiv Jaroslavl plane crash,in Jaroslavl,Russia... he was the head coach of the KHL team...

commentary...

the only thing good about this game,against Columbus,was the power play... the Red Wings scored four goals,in last two games,alas,against Columbus,but a power play goal is a power play goal... however,they have lost seven straight road games,longest streak,since 1990-1991,and they have played like ordure*,on the road,this season(sorry for that,folks,but they have...) i am a true fan of the Red Wings,and i am very disappointed with their game play,at least,on the road,this season... if they played halfway decent on the road,they would be tough to beat,because they have the talent to contend for the Stanley Cup,and Red Wings' head coach Mike Babcock looked disgusted,most of the game,tonight,saying very little to the team,during game... he did talk to the coaches,but not to many players... i have seen every game,except one,live,and this is a game that i put on the list of games that really stunk,because the effort was not there tonight,but to tell you the truth,even though they beat Columbus four times,this season,they seem to lay an big EGG,at least,once a year,against Columbus... i remember a game a few seasons ago that the Red Wings played against Columbus,in which Rick Nash scored a hat trick(three goals in a game),and beat Detroit,by himself,3-2,and yet,the Red Wings wasted a big chance to move further,into 4th place,in Western Conference,tonight...
*something vile,or abhorrent...

game score,and comment...

Blue Jackets 4,Red Wings 2... embarrassed by Red Wings(a 7-2 win,by Detroit),on Monday,the Blue Jackets played a very good game,and the Red Wings never showed up,tonight... game really sucked,if you were a Red Wings' fan...

game in progress,2nd intermission...

Blue Jackets 4,Red Wings 1... Red Wings are way out of sync tonight... bad defense,and all four goals,are off turnovers,and the Red Wings have hung goaltender Ty Conklin to dry,giving him no chance to really stop pucks... ugly game... WHAT DEFENSE!!!!!!!

commentary...

it looks,honestly,like a dogfight between the Los Angeles Kings,and San Jose Sharks,for the Pacific Division crown,because Dallas Stars have a very tough schedule,to finish first... after tonight's game,against Edmonton Oilers,the Stars play a home,and home series against the Sharks,the Nashville Predators,and to finish season,they play the St. Louis Blues...
Phoenix Coyotes play the Sharks,tomorrow,then the Anaheim Ducks,the Columbus Blue Jackets,the St. Louis Blues,and to end the season,the Minnesota Wild,but not enough games to win Pacific Division...
Los Angeles Kings,and the San Jose Sharks play a home and home series,of games to end season,so it may come down to last period,of game 82,for the Sharks,to win Pacific Division....

schedule...

Red Wings/Columbus Blue Jackets,tonight... back end of a home and home series of games...

game that does matter to Red Wings...

St. Louis Blues 3,Nashville Predators 0...

injury update...

Philadelphia Flyers' goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov has a chip fracture,in his right foot,out for,at least,one game... listed as day to day...

game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 7,Blue Jackets 2... domination,by Red Wings... Tomas Holmstrom scored twice... Henrik Zetterberg,and Todd Bertuzzi had four point nights... Niklas Kronwall,Valtteri Flippula,and Pavel Datsyuk,who had a goal,and an assist,had two point nights... Nicklas Lidstrom,Jiri Hudler,Brad Stuart,all scored,and Gustav Nyquist scored his first NHL career goal... it was 7-0,before Columbus scored a goal... for the Blue Jackets,Mark Letestu,and Rick Nash scored garbage goals... it is Red Wings' 21st straight playoff berth(29 straight years is record,by the Boston Bruins),and the 21st straight year,in playoffs broke Red Wings' franchise record,going back to 1938 to 1958...

game in progress,2nd intermission...

Red Wings 6,Blue Jackets 0...

game in progress...

Red Wings 4,Blue Jackets 0,after one period...

Happy Birthday,Jimmy...

Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard turns 28 years old,today

odd fact...

final note about the game with Carolina Hurricanes:it was the first regulation win,for Red Wings,when down by three goals,or more,since February,2001...

Red Wings' news...

if Red Wings beat Blue Jackets,tonight,they will clinch their 21st straight NHL playoff berth,extending their current pro sports leading playoff streak...

schedule...

Columbus Blue Jackets/Red Wings,tonight...

NCAA Hockey Frozen Four...

Union College Garnet Blades,Minnesota Golden Gophers,Boston College Eagles,and Ferris State Bulldogs,are in NCAA Frozen Four...

opinion...

there are twelve teams who have legitimate shots for Stanley Cup playoff run... they are:New York Rangers,defending Stanley Cup Champions Boston Bruins,Philadelphia Flyers,and Pittsburgh Penguins,in Eastern Conference,and St. Louis Blues,Vancouver Canucks,San Jose Sharks,Detroit Red Wings,Dallas Stars,Nashville Predators,Los Angeles Kings,and Chicago Blackhawks,in the Western Conference... funny thing is that i have three teams,who can win the Pacific Division,because it is a dogfight in that division,and the simple fact is that all three teams have,at one time,or another,have impressed me,this year...

commentary...

mark my words!!!!!!! the game against the New York Rangers,and tonight's game,against the Carolina Hurricanes may be the spark that the Red Wings really needed to propel them into the Stanley Cup playoffs,because,even though they lost,2-1,to the Rangers,they did play a gritty game,and tonight,they played their best offensive game,since their 23 game winning streak,earlier in the season... i have to give credit to Hurricanes' goaltender,Cam Ward,for a very good defensive game,because without him,the Hurricanes would have lost something like 15-4,because he made some spectacular saves,on the Red Wings,and in third period,no Hurricanes' player gave him help,at all,because the Red Wings were just en fuego(on fire,in Spanish),in the third period,and after tying game,in third period,the Red Wings simply refused to lose,and kept pounding the stuffings,out of Ward,and the Hurricanes,in the third period,with nineteen shots,and allowing just three shots,in the entire third period... the Hurricanes did not their first shot,of the third period,until after thirteen minutes plus had gone off the clock...

what was happening on November 14,1989?

sports fact from November 14,1989:on that day,Jim Rice was placed on waivers,by the Boston Red Sox,ending his 15 year association,with the Red Sox...

strange fact...

the Carolina Hurricanes' franchise has not won a regular season game,in Detroit,since November 14,1989(8,166 days,and counting),when the team was in Hartford,as the Whalers... however,they did win,in the first game of the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals,3-2,in overtime,in Detroit,on June 4,2002,but Red Wings won Stanley Cup,in five games... it is the longest stretch of days,between wins,between teams,in one place,in NHL history...

FINALLY,WHAT A GAME...

Red Wings 5,Hurricanes 4... Red Wings scored last four goals;had fifty shots,in game,and out-shot Hurricanes,in third period,19-3,to break a six game winless streak...

game in progress...

Hurricanes 4,Red Wings 3... weird second period:Carolina Hurricanes get two goals on both ends of a two-man advantage,in a time span of 17 seconds,and scored early,in both periods,:17 into first,by Jiri Tlusty,off a stick tip(Ian White's stick),and a broken play,:26 into second period,by Chad LaRose... Tlusty scored his second goal to end two power play goals,in :17... Jamie McBain scored the first goal,on that two-man advantage,to go up,4-1,on the Red Wings,but Red Wings scored twice,in 18 seconds,to stay within one,4-3,after two periods,and Henrik Zetterberg scored twice,along with Todd Bertuzzi... both Red Wings' goals in 18 seconds were even strength goals...(by Zetterberg,and then Bertuzzi)

good news for Believau...

Montreal Canadiens' legend,and class of 1972 Hockey Hall of Fame member,Jean Beliveau was released from hospital,yesterday... he was part of seventeen teams that won the Stanley Cup(seven times,as a executive of the team)... prayers still go out to him,and his family...

funny quote...

Red Wings' captain Nicklas Lidstrom in being asked if it was up to him,if he would play tonight,after missing eleven games(deep ankle bruise)said,"Oh,i wanted to play four weeks ago",noting that he did not want to miss any games... he is a game time decision,tonight,against Carolina...

Breaking news...

in a severe blow,to the Blackhawks:2009-2010 Norris Trophy winner,Duncan Keith got suspended for five games,for elbowing Daniel Sedin,of the Vancouver Canucks,in the head,during their game,March 21st... he will forfeit $149,688,15,of his salary...

commentary...

even though San Jose Sharks did beat Boston Bruins,last night,2-1,in regulation,they still are in tenth place,in Western Conference,and are in fourth place in Pacific Division,and because of the lack of regulation/overtime wins,any ties in division do not go their way,so far... they will need wins in six games(of their remaining eight games,seven of them playing a division rival),and winning five,of those games,in regulation,because any three point games(both teams get one point,and with winner getting two)will not help the Sharks... fact is that the Sharks need to win Pacific Division outright,because any ties they will lose,if they do not win games in regulation,because that is first tiebreaker for playoff seeding,if there is a tie between teams... even though they do have their season,in their own hands,the edge is razor thin... any mistakes,by the Sharks,will doom their playoff chances...

commentary...

simply put,the Red Wings have lost six in a row(0-4-2),and seem to be sliding down the playoff seeding,but for the pundits who may believe that the NHL may not fear the Red Wings,as much as they used to,be warned:this team of Red Wings are not the same team that is playing for them,now,but the team will get mostly healthy,before the playoffs,and then you will face the team that,for most of the regular season,who led the NHL,and had a twenty-three game-winning streak,at home,which may be remembered as the greatest streak of home wins,in NHL history,and to those pundits,i say that the Red Wings may not be the best team,this season(winning Stanley Cup),but anyone who believes that the Red Wings are going to just roll over,and be fodder,for the rest of the NHL,going into the Stanley Cup playoffs,and the team that i have seen most of this season reminds me of the Stanley Cup winning teams,of the past,not because of firepower,but because of fire,and simple grit... some of the team's critics have said the the Red Wings have stopped listening to Mike Babcock,and maybe some of the last three weeks,that may have been correct,for a short time,but last night's game,against the New York Rangers,really showed me something about this season's team... out-manned,and banged up,the team showed some real grit,and fight,against a team that honestly should have blown them out of the building-like 3-0,or 4-0,but the real character,of this team,be it in Grand Rapids,or in Detroit,is one of a team who will fight until the last second of every game... that is the team that i have seen most of this season,and with the major starters coming back from injury,unlike 2010,when the Red Wings did have major injuries,and simply ran out of gas,in the Stanley Cup playoffs,this year's Red Wings' team is getting healthy,exactly at the right time,for their playoff run,and unfortunately the rest of the NHL have forgotten how well this Red Wings' team played for most of this season... this team,defensively,really reminds me of the Stanley Cup winning teams,because most of those teams had very good defense,and timely goals... to the pundits,if you are wishing for an easy route to the Stanley Cup,you may not want to face Detroit,in the Stanley Cup playoffs,and to any team who may believe that the Red Wings may be weaker,and not be as strong as other years,remember this team,in the Red Wings,may be very tough to beat,in seven games,because most of this season,this team has shown very good defense,and a very good offense,and some real grit,not to give up at critical times,and a true heart,in this team that is still beating stronger,every game,and even with eight major skaters,out with injury,the Red Wings are still alive,for the playoff run,for the Stanley Cup,and to every team that may be in the Stanley Cup playoffs,the Red Wings will be ready for their run,for the Stanley Cup,so be warned:the Red Wings will be tougher than nails to beat,but a puck bounce will decide the Stanley Cup Champions(always does),but to the team,or teams that the Red Wings face,in the Stanley Cup playoffs,the heart of a champion will fight down to the last second of the last game that the Red Wings play,and win,or lose,the Red Wings will fight,with everything they have,and to the pundits,you have said that Red Wings may be weaker,now than in the past,but i say that you may regret what you wish for,because this team is not going down,without a fight,and be warned NHL,HERE THEY COME!!!!!!!!!

injury update,and schedule...

Nicklas Lidstrom believes that he may play,Saturday,against Carolina Hurricanes...
Hurricanes/Red Wings,Saturday...
Blue Jackets/Red Wings,Monday.March 26th,2012...
Red Wings/Blue Jackets,Wednesday,March 28,2012...
Nashville Predators/Red Wings,Friday,March 30,2012

game score,and commentary...

New York Rangers 2,Red Wings 1,overtime loss... even though the Red Wings lost,it was the best game that the Red Wings have played in last three weeks... the game was non-conference game,which does not hurt as much... the key,with the banged-up Red Wings,was to come out of New York,with a point,and they stood toe to toe with one of the best teams,in NHL,and came out of NYC,with a big point... with eight major starters out(including both first line goaltenders),the Red Wings fought like champions,and had their best overall game,in about a month... you have to rebuild confidence,and this game is confidence-building,and the point does not hurt-back in fourth place,in Western Conference,over idle Nashville Predators...

NHL news...

Alexander Radulov has officially rejoined the Nashville Predators... in my opinion,this causes a black eye for the NHL... i have said that earlier,in my blog...

schedule...

Red Wings/New York Rangers,tonight...

game score,and commentary...

Los Angeles Kings 5,San Jose Sharks 2... Sharks are in trouble(tenth in Western Conference);may be only two points away from eighth,but with only 29 regulation/overtime wins(Phoenix Coyotes,and the Kings have 30),which is first tiebreaker,for playoff seeding,so the Sharks need one more point than both teams,at end of season,to get to playoffs(basically beat both teams)... they did beat Nashville Predators,and the Red Wings,but lost to the Anaheim Ducks and Kings,in back to back games,giving up five goals,in both games,and nary a point... they lost last night,to the Ducks,5-3... the last six games are against Pacific Division teams,and question:do you think that they are going to roll over,for the Sharks?,and finally,digest this:the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins,and Tim Thomas,are their next game,in San Jose,Thursday... nine games left,and need to win seven,with at least,five games,in regulation/overtime,because without more regulation/overtime wins,they are in deep trouble...

game that does matter to Red Wings...

Edmonton Oilers 6,Nashville Predators 3... Oilers' Ales Hemsky scored first hat trick...

commentary...

Western Conference standings are so tight,that teams that are on losing streaks,right now,or teams who win one/lose one,are in trouble(Red Wings,Sharks),of losing their good seeding,for a bad seeding,in the playoffs,or not making the Stanley Cup playoffs,respectively... San Jose,right now,is tenth in the conference,but only a point behind Phoenix Coyotes,and Dallas Stars,who leads the Pacific Division... they are also tied with Los Angeles Kings(but because regulation/overtime wins,they are in fourth place in that division)...
Red Wings,three weeks ago,were the best team,in the NHL,but injuries,horrible bad luck,and lousy defense,has put the Red Wings in fifth place,in Western Conference... five players who were in Grand Rapids(AHL team),three weeks ago,played with the Red Wings,last night,which is never a good sign,for a team... however,the injury bug may be relieving the Red Wings,soon... Nicklas Lidstrom may play this coming weekend,and the others may be back before the season ends,but team chemistry may not be what it was,until the first round of the playoffs begins,so i still may not want to play the Red Wings,in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs,whereever Detroit ends up in seedings...
San Jose still worries me because they are inconsistent,in their play:win one/lose one still,and now giving Dallas,Phoenix,and Los Angeles,a chance to steal the Pacific Division,and if one of those teams does it,the Sharks are in trouble,of not making the playoffs,because of lack of regulation/overtime wins,overall...

game score,and commentary...

Capitals 5,Red Wings 3... Red Wings make it interesting,but just fell short(an empty net goal made it,5-3)... player of the game:no one for the Wings... Alex Ovechkin scored two power play goals,for the Capitals... in last five games:0-4-1,for the Red Wings... it has been very brutal to be a fan,of the Red Wings,right now... ugh!!!!! the Red Wings did show some grit,in third period,but the three goals,in first period,for the Capitals doomed the Red Wings,and coming back from a 3-0 deficit,in first period,did suck,tonight... however,it may be a good sign for the Red Wings(third period),because the Red Wings showed some fire and life,for the first time,in five plus games.... i hate bad hockey,so just maybe the Red Wings will play better,against the New York Rangers,Wednesday... cross your fingers!!!!! being a fan means you look for a silver lining,in mud,and just hope that the Red Wings finally wake up,from a bad slump...

game in progress...

three major mistakes around the Red Wings' net,has allowed the Red Wings seem like a mortal team,and Washington Capitals an unbeatable team... two power play goals(one power play was caused by a puck being swatted into Alex Ovechkin's mouth-was called a high stick,by Niklas Kronwall,honestly,referees missed that call,because Ovechkin went down face first,like he was shot)... Ovechkin scored both power play goals... three lousy defenseless goals,in first period,put Detroit down,3-0,after one period,and the Red Wings finally scored a power play goal(Kyle Quincey),early in second period,but Washington scored a goal,on a sloppy Red Wings' turnover,just in front of Jimmy Howard,to go up by 3,4-1,late in second period... the Red Wings have shown some spunk,and grit,but nothing is going the Red Wings way... early in third period(36 seconds),Todd Bertuzzi scored,to make it,4-2... game still on....

injury update...

Red Wings' Darren Helm will be out 4-6 weeks,with a medial collateral ligament strain,in his left knee....

comment...

with a win over the Anaheim Ducks,San Jose Sharks would lead Pacific Division,and be in third place,in Western Conference,tonight,but still with an overtime loss/shootout loss,tonight,they would be in seventh place,in Western Conference,anyway...

injuries,injuries....

INJURIES PILE UP FOR RED WINGS!!!!!!! Red Wings' Darren Helm is out,due to the "dreaded" lower body injury... he says that he wants to be back,for last week,of season to prepare for the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs... MRI due today...

trivia...

March 18,1929:Detroit Cougars(now Red Wings) appeared in NHL playoffs,for first time,losing a two game series,to Toronto...
March 18,1933:in first afternoon game,in NHL history,Detroit Red Wings,beat Chicago Blackhawks,4-3,in Chicago...

Red Wings' trivia,and NHL history...

what team holds the record for consecutive road wins,in a season(hint:they set the consecutive home wins mark,this season)?answer:the 2005-2006 Detroit Red Wings... side note:bad news,that season:Red Wings lost,in a very strange way(a weird puck bounce,off Nicklas Lidstrom's stick,in front of goaltender-puck went over his head into net,to win game 5,in last seconds,for Edmonton,and then bad defense around the net,and two sweep jobs-breakaways-by the Oilers,to win game 6),to Edmonton Oilers,who lost to the Carolina Hurricanes,in Stanley Cup Finals,that year... funny thing is that i remember that,like it was yesterday...

schedule...

Washington Capitals/Red Wings,tomorrow...
Red Wings/New York Rangers,Wednesday...
Carolina Hurricanes/Red Wings,next Saturday...

game score,and commentary...

Sharks 3,Red Wings 2,overtime win... with Nashville losing,Red Wings got a very big point,and this is the team that i have seen most of the season... the Red Wings are really banged up,and they honestly played their tails off,tonight... i am very proud,of the Red Wings,because if they play this way the rest of the season,they will win the vast majority,of their remaining games,and be very tough in the playoffs... very tough way to lose in overtime(with Jimmy Howard being run over,but the guy was pushed onto Howard,i have to admit),but the Sharks fought tooth and nail,for these two points... referees did not have best night... they missed an elbow to the head of the Red Wings' Brad Stuart,and nit-picked the calls all night...

schedule...

Red Wings/San Jose Sharks,tonight...

Red Wings' trivia,and NHL history...

Billy Taylor,of the Red Wings became first Red Wings' player to score seven assists,in a game,as the Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks,10-6,on March 16,1947...
history was made,in 1955,in Montreal:on March 17,1955,when the Red Wings won game,4-1,by forfeit,when Canadiens' fans rioted,over the suspension of Maurice "Rocket" Richard... the riot was so bad that police,and fans were fighting each other,in the streets of Montreal...

game score,and comment...

San Jose Sharks 2,Nashville Predators 1,shootout win... Sharks are 4-8-4,in last sixteen games,going into game,with Red Wings,Saturday night...

what fun,coming Saturday...

before you get very excited about the game,between the San Jose Sharks,and the Detroit Red Wings,Saturday night...
here are some numbers,about both teams,that should make you shudder,in disgust:
San Jose is 3-8-4,in last 15 games(going into game,against Nashville,tonight),and 2-5-3,in last 10 games...
Detroit is 3-6-1,in last 10 games,and have simply stunk,in last two games...
they are the worst records,of any of the possible playoff contenders...

game score,and comment...

Ducks 4,Red Wings 0... first shutout of Red Wings,in Anaheim,in team history(37 games)... zero for last 27,on the power play....

commentary...

i must be a real die-hard fan of the Red Wings,because the Red Wings are playing real ugly,turning over puck right in front of their net,not once,not twice,but thrice.... all three turnovers ended up in the back of the net... real ugly,period... Red Wings are zero for last 26,on power play,including zero for two,so far(not including third period)... i believe that Niklas Kronwall had last power play goal,at 3:43,of the second period,against Columbus,on February 28,2012(i am correct),so Red Wings have not had a power play goal,in March,yet... this is getting very,very old,and not fun to watch,but i am a true fan... you have to say that about me...

NHL news...

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby,coming back from a concussion/neck injury,will play his first game,since December 5th,2011,when the Penguins play the New York Rangers,in New York,New York,tomorrow...

note...

after Red Wings' game,against San Jose Sharks,Saturday,the farther they will go west,will be in St. Louis,in the 81st game of the year...

good news,and a players' poll...

Todd Bertuzzi should return tonight,against the Anaheim Ducks,and a long lost Red Wings player should return Saturday,against the San Jose Sharks:one Pavel Datsyuk... by the way,in the most recent issue,of the Hockey News,they took a poll of top 50 players,in NHL,voted by the players... Pavel Datsyuk was ranked number two,only behind Sidney Crosby,of the Pittsburgh Penguins,Nicklas Lidstrom was ranked seventh,and Henrik Zetterberg,was ranked twentieth...

NHL news...

last night was not good for the Red Wings,Sharks,or Blues... all lost,in regulation,overtime,or shootout,respectively... however,there was NHL history,anyway... Steven Stamkos,of the Tampa Bay Lightning scored two goals,in a,6-1,win over the Boston Bruins... the goals were his 49th,and 50th,of the season... now for the history:he joins an elite group,in having two,or more 50+goal seasons,before age 23... group now includes:Wayne Gretzky,four seasons,Mike Bossy,two seasons,Mario Lemieux,two seasons,Joe Nieuwendyk,two seasons,Alex Ovechkin,two seasons,and Stamkos,with his two seasons...

game score,and comment...

Kings 5,Red Wings 2... really ugly game,for Red Wings... great game for the Kings...

scores that do matter...

Chicago Blackhawks 4,St. Louis Blues 3,shootout loss...
Calgary Flames 3,San Jose Sharks 2,overtime loss...

good people sometimes do finish first....

Benilde-St. Margaret's high school hockey team beat Hill-Murray High,5-1,to win Class 2-A Minnesota State hockey championship... why is that important? Remember Jack Jablonski? the high school hockey player who was paralyzed,from being hit into the boards... well,he won a Minnesota state hockey championship medal,and when he showed up in locker room,and after the game,the entire team went nuts...

commentary...

in a bizarre ruling,NHL allows Alexander Radulov,gone since 2008,from the Nashville Predators,when he left with one year remaining,on his contract,to go to the KHL,in Russia,to rejoin the Predators,"at any time",this season,and NHL will count that as a full year toward free agency... problem with that:Rule 13.23,that tells players,and teams that player must go through waivers,before re-joining their old team... NHLPA waived that rule,and that has be done,"six or seven times",but this is really a big joke on the rest of the teams,of the NHL... the NHL,and the Predators,have given the lame excuse that Radulov was a suspended player,by the Predators... WAY TO GO,NHL!!!!!!!!!!! (laughing,of course)

schedule...

Red Wings/Los Angeles Kings...
St. Louis Blues/Chicago Blackhawks...
San Jose Sharks/Calgary Flames...

score that does matter...

San Jose Sharks 3,Edmonton Oilers 2... ninth place for the Sharks,and they play the Calgary Flames,tomorrow...

commentary...

simply put.i am disappointed in the way that the San Jose Sharks have played the entire year... their overall defense around the net reminds me of last year's Red Wings,in which Detroit gave up too many soft goals,and it cost them in the Stanley Cup playoffs,against the Sharks... Antti Niemi may be a very good goaltender,but overall he has not shown that much,and the loss of Rob Blake,from a couple years ago,does not help,because they have not made up for that defensive lack(grit),and Blake was known to be a clean,but devastating body checker... as i remember saying on this blog,San Jose traded goals,for goals,and forgot to bring in some gritty players,last off-season... a gritty player is not one who simply fights,for fighting's sake;it is a player who makes the other team hate to face that team,or player,with enough bumps,and a grinder,who digs in around the goal,and refuses to give in,when down a goal,or two... finding that delicate balance,between being a finesse team,and a team who shows some grit,along with scoring touch,and having a rock in goal is not easy,but San Jose has had years of playoff failure,and has not sipped from Stanley,or been deep in playoffs,too often,over the past decade... they do have the right head coach,or do they? i totally blame the Sharks' front office,because they do not have a clue,on how to put a playoff winning team together,and they have tried to copy Detroit's front office:they brought a coach in from Detroit,but they have the same players that have shown little,in terms of grit,and they are basically the same team,in players,for the last five years,and that is the problem,because the players have had a habit of losing in the playoffs,so they beat Detroit the last two years(that is a plus),but the Vancouver Canucks,the Detroit Red Wings,and the Chicago Blackhawks have gotten better,this year,and San Jose has shown very little,in terms of improvement,this year...

score that does matter...

Calgary 4,Minnesota 3... the Sharks just dropped to 10th,in playoff seeding,because of this game....

strange facts...

the Florida Panthers lead the Southeast Division,but an odd fact appears on their resume:they have allowed twenty-seven more goals,than they have scored(164 goals scored for team;191 goals scored against team)... in fact,every team in division,has the same distinction...

commentary...

San Jose Sharks are in serious trouble,of not making the Stanley Cup playoffs... like i said earlier,they have only 27 regulation/overtime wins,which is first tiebreaker,they are six points,behind the Dallas Stars,and in third place,in the Pacific Division,and in ninth place,in playoff seeding,as of right now... they have two games,in hand,on Dallas,and the Phoenix Coyotes... the only way to win that division,is to pass those teams outright(get more points),but with fewer regulation/overtime wins,they will lose out on a tied division... they have fifteen games,left,in season... in my honest opinion,they would have to go,12-3-0(or something close),and the way that they are playing,that will be tough... they will need about 95 points to have a shot at that division,and,at least,ten more regulation/overtime wins,to make it interesting... clock is ticking... making the playoffs may be easy,but how many lower seeds have been in the Conference Championship series,recently? answer:2010,Montreal,and Philadelphia,but they had to upset the Washington Capitals,and the Boston Bruins,in classic seven game wars,respectively....

game score...

Phoenix Coyotes 3,San Jose Sharks 0... what happened to the Sharks? UGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

game score,and commentary...

Predators 3,Red Wings 2... the Red Wings have been undermanned(seven regulars out for an extended time-last three weeks,or so),but have done very well,overall,and their goaltending has been very good,even though Jimmy Howard has missed a number of games... this has been tough to watch,but i am proud of this team,this season,because the game,against Los Angeles,may have been a dogfight,and tonight's game,against Nashville,shows me true grit,and guts,in a team,who have two future Hall of Fame members out,and many other players,who were key to the team,out for some time...
two perfectly executed power passes,and goals,by Andrei Kostitsyn doomed the Red Wings tonight,and a stone wall,by the name,of Pekka Rinne,who since Christmas,is,i believe,22-4-3,in goal,for Nashville... have to give credit,to Nashville(hate to),and fortunately,this Red Wings' team will not be the one team that teams will be playing,in Stanley Cup playoffs,next month,because when Detroit starts their last West Coast trip,on Tuesday,Nicklas Lidstrom should play,and Pavel Datsyuk,and the rest of the skating wounded should be back,during the trip... then Detroit will be tough to beat,in Stanley Cup playoffs...

AHL,and ECHL update...

the Grand Rapids Griffiths are 25-22-6-4(60 points),fourth place in North Division(thirteen points behind,Toronto Marlies),of the Western Conference,of the American Hockey League,and are 6-2-2,in the last ten games...
Toledo Walleye are 26-28-2-4(58 points),last place,in North Division,of the Eastern Conference(fifteen points behind Kalamazoo Wings),and eleventh place,in Eastern Conference,of the East Coast Hockey League...
The Griffiths play the Houston Aeros,in Houston,tonight,and tomorrow,and the Walleye play the Elmira Jackals,in Elmira,New York,tonight,and the Wheeling Nailers,in Wheeling,West Virginia,tomorrow...

note from last night...

the total amount of shots that the Red Wings had last night(fifteen)was the fewest,for the Red Wings,in a game,in nearly eight years,and they won the game...

NHL news...

Washington Capitals' Mike Green has been suspended three games,for an illegal hit to the head,of Tampa Bay Lightning Brett Connally,during game,on March 8th,2012... he will forfeit $85,135.14,of his salary

schedule...

Red Wings/Nashville Predators,tomorrow...

game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 4,Kings 3... Henrik Zetterberg scored twice,and Valtteri Filppula scored once,along with Darren Helm,with game winner with 1:13 left,in regulation... Joey MacDonald made a save with fifteen seconds left,on a two man disadvantage(6 on 4),that should be on highlights,in Detroit,if not on NHL plays of the week,then puck hit the knob of his stick,with 5.3 seconds left in game,that may have turned momentum,finally,in the Red Wings' favor... amazingly,Red Wings had only fifteen shots all night(lowest output of season)... Zetterberg(two goals,and an assist),and Filppula(a goal,and two assists) both had three point nights....

comment...

the Red Wings could do the San Jose Sharks a big favor,by beating the Los Angeles Kings(ninth in playoff seeding,one point,behind Sharks,and Phoenix Coyotes),tonight,but honestly,if Jimmy Howard(if he plays)has a good game,Red Wings should win,but expect a dogfight,tonight...

score that matter to the Red Wings...(last night)

St. Louis Blues 3,Anaheim Ducks 1... close game,until the third,when Blues scored twice,in 2:01,early in third period...

blog statement...

people who read my blog are true fans of the game of hockey... the vast majority of posts will be Red Wings' posts,but not to note the other teams,in the Western Conference,and the NHL has been my downfall,so i will comment on other teams that may play the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup playoffs... not much will change,but i am fascinated by the recent downward slide of the Sharks,because they are going nowhere,if they do not win some games,soon,in regulation,or in overtime... i look at the game of hockey(i love it),and i bleed Red and White(Red Wings' colors),out of my veins,but i love the beautiful game of hockey,and i try to tell you that every day,and will continue to do so,on my blog...

game score,and commentary...

Dallas Stars 4,San Jose Sharks 3,shootout loss... the Sharks have 27 regulation/overtime wins,worst among playoff contenders... that little stat is first tiebreaker,among tied teams,at end of season,so let us say,for example,San Jose is tied for seventh in points,with Los Angeles(tied with Sharks,with 27 regulation/overtime wins,right now),and Phoenix,San Jose is out of playoffs,because of fewer regulation/overtime wins than both of them... right now Los Angeles is in ninth place,one point behind Sharks)... the shootout loss really did hurt,because the Sharks did have a 3-2 lead,with less than two minutes left(Dallas tied game up,at 3,with 1:15 left)... i want good hockey played,and the Sharks played very well tonight,but they keep losing points,to opponents,in games,and that is not good,and the games,and the season is ebbing away... one good fact:they play Pacific Division teams,at end of season,so they do have a shot,at making Stanley Cup playoffs,by winning their division,but they better start winning some games,in regulation,and/or overtime,but a well-known fact,is that nearing the playoffs,every team plays harder,and it is not so easy to get regulation wins,or even overtime wins,but the San Jose Sharks are in deep trouble... are they the team who were in Western Conference Finals,the last two years? or are they a team that will be in the playoffs,but go one,and out? the rest of the season will tell...

Red Wings' news...

the Grand Rapids Griffiths,of the American Hockey League,signed five year extension,with the Red Wings...

Red Wings' news...

yesterday,Red Wings' Niklas Kronwall flattened Jakub Voracek,of the Philadelphia Flyers,with a hit,and busted up his mouth,and then he had to have stitches in both his upper mouth,and lower mouth,during the game... he got KRONWALLED,in second period,and wobbled off the ice... Jaromir Jagr also suffered a hip injury,too,for the Flyers...

commentary...

Niklas Kronwall,of the Red Wings,reminds me of former Los Angeles Kings' player Rob Blake,in the way that he hits players... Blake used to hit players(cleanly)backing up,with his backside,and do it in a way that would simply devastate the player,in putting players,on the ice,or on the bench,for a few minutes... to get Kronwalled means simply to be crunched into a mass of player,who may be groggy,and disoriented,for a few minutes... to see tape of Blake reminds me of a truly great player,and i can see Kronwall being that great,but Blake had a better scoring touch(Kronwall is young,in that case)... Blake also played for the San Jose Sharks,and the Colorado Avalanche,where he won a Stanley Cup,in 2001... Blake was also on Kings' team that went to Stanley Cup Finals,and losing to Montreal Canadiens,in five games,in 1992-1993... only to wish that Kronwall to have a long career,in the Winged Wheel...

game score,and commentary...

Edmonton Oilers 3,San Jose Sharks 2,shootout loss... Sharks got one point,and are in eighth place,in NHL playoff seeding... Sam Gagner scored only shootout goal,for the Oilers you talk good teams getting points from bad games,but the Sharks had lead with less than five minutes left,in second period,and could not hold it,and a two man advantage,in third period,and could not put puck past Devin Dubnyk... next two games are against Dallas,and Phoenix,so they will find out what team they are... they have been 2-7-1,in last ten games... to be fair,the Red Wings are 5-4-1,in last ten games,and have minor injuries,to major players,but what is San Jose's excuses? i rather be where the Red Wings are in standings,than San Jose... i honestly believe that the Sharks are a playoff team,but have not played anywhere near their potential,all year... after tonight,are we both having fun,yet?

game score,and comment...

Flyers 3,Red Wings 2... the short-handed goal,by Max Talbot,in second period,was the difference... an ugly game,period...

game in progress,2nd intermission...

Flyers 3,Red Wings 1... very bad defense,and a short-handed goal,by Flyers,puts Red Wings,into a two goal deficit,after two periods... they look like that they do not care about game,because they are basically sleepwalking through game... very few body hits,and skating like a pee-wee hockey team makes me vomit,and this may be the least defensive game,in months,since a 7-1 beating,of the Red Wings,by the Washington Capitals,October 22,2011(the Red Wings' first loss,of season)... score does not indicate how bad the Red Wings are playing,tonight...

game in progress...

Flyers 2,Red Wings 1... two bad turnovers,one behind the Red Wings' net,by Joey MacDonald,and an one-man breakaway,gave the Flyers an early,2-1,lead... Red Wings scored on first shot that they had,at Ilya Bryzgalov... so far,what defense,by the Red Wings?

NHL news...

Philadelphia Flyers retired Hall of Fame member Mark Howe's number 2 sweater,today... he was on the blue line,for the Flyers,with Brad McCrimmon,in the 1980's,to make one of the best blue defenses,in NHL history... both played for the Red Wings,too... special NHL permission had to be given,before the NHL does not like sweater retirement ceremony,after March 1st...

NHL news...

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby(concussion/neck)has been cleared for contact,in practice... no return date was announced...

schedule...

Red Wings/Philadelphia Flyers,tonight...

bad news-good news...

the Red Wings have seven regulars on injury list(Todd Bertuzzi,Jakub Kindl,Pavel Datsyuk,Jimmy Howard,Nicklas Lidstrom,Jonathan Ericsson,and Patrick Eaves),but only Ericsson(broken wrist),and Eaves(broken jaw/concussion),are out long term,and with basically a month left,the Red Wings are relatively healthy,at this time of season... the first five on that list(various minor injuries)should be back,at least,by end of the west coast trip,coming next week,and luckily,there is a month left in the regular season,so the Red Wings should be ready for a long run for the Stanley Cup...

NHL news...

Red Wings' Niklas Kronwall has been named the second star of the week,by the NHL,behind the Buffalo Sabres' goaltender Ryan Miller...

commentary...

at least,for today,The San Jose Sharks have fallen to eighth place,in playoff seeding,and they have the slimmest margin,of a cushion(one point),from being out of the NHL playoffs... the Los Angeles Kings are one point behind the Sharks,in ninth place... the Sharks now have two teams ahead,of them(Phoenix Coyotes,and the Dallas Stars),and they lose the first tiebreaker,in a tied division,to both teams,because both teams have more regulation/overtime wins,than the Sharks(Dallas has 30 wins,Phoenix has 28 wins,and the Sharks have 27 wins)... Phoenix,and Dallas both have a two point division lead(with Phoenix being in first place),over the Sharks...

game score,and comment...

Blackhawks 2,Red Wings 1... bad turnover,by the Red Wings,next to net,gave winning goal,by Patrick Kane,to the Blackhawks,late in second period... Red Wings hit the goal posts four times(not a shot on goal)... both teams played choppy hockey(rather bad ice,today),and it was a typical Red Wings/Blackhawks game-an one goal game,between the two teams,and rather chippy,between the two teams...

trivia...

including today,Red Wings and Blackhawks have played 720 regular season games,between the two teams,most in NHL history...

comment...

of the current sixteen teams,in playoff position,San Jose Sharks have the worst 10 game stretch of games(2-7-1)... they have scored one goal,in last two games,and only two goals,in last three games? what has happened to the Sharks? they missed a golden opportunity,to catch Phoenix,today,and their offense simply stinks!!!!!!

games that do matter to Red Wings...

St. Louis Blues,at San Jose Sharks,tonight... both teams need the two points,but the Sharks are in seventh place,and need the two points a little more,to catch Phoenix Coyotes,for top spot,in Pacific Division....

commentary...

ROUND FIVE:Chicago,at Detroit,tomorrow... Red Wings can put nail,into Blackhawks' chances for Central Division crown,as two "Original Six" teams battle... Jonathan Toews,for Chicago,is out,with a concussion,and Pavel Datsyuk,and Nicklas Lidstrom will miss game,also with injury,so both teams will be undermanned,going into game... tips to game:can Chicago score early,or stop pucks,from going into net(easy goals,or goals,at critical times)? can Detroit overcome injury,with a younger team than they are used to,and score like they did last night,against Minnesota(multi-player scoring),and is Jimmy howard going to be focused to face a desperate Chicago Blackhawks' team,who wants to show the Red Wings that they will be a force,in the rest of regular season,and be very dangerous in the NHL playoffs... finally,can the Red Wings win their 28th game,at home,and give themselves some breathing room,in the fight with St. Louis,for Central Division crown?...

NHL news...

Toronto Maple Leafs fired Ron Wilson,and hired Randy Carlyle,as their new head coach... the media pressure in Toronto,if you do not win,is absolutely brutal...

game score,and comment...

Red Wings 6,Wild 0... Red Wings pounded Minnesota,and Jimmy Howard recorded his sixth shutout,of this season... Minnesota never showed up,for game,and Valtteri Flippula scored twice,along with Brendan Smith(his first NHL goal),Darren Helm,Ian White,and Henrik Zetterberg... no contest!!!!!!!

tidbit...

Red Wings' play by play man Ken Daniels announced his 1,000th game,tonight,for the Red Wings...

commentary...

last night,San Jose lost to Buffalo Sabres,1-0,which is somewhat of a surprise,but this year,not so much... the way that the Sharks are playing,they are wasting opportunities to pass Phoenix,and secure a better spot,for the playoffs... they played a very good defensive game,last night,but the San Jose offense that has been touted,as a very good one,wasted a very good goaltending game,by not showing up,on the scoreboard... the funny thing is that you can say the same thing about the Washington Capitals,Chicago Blackhawks,Tampa Bay Lightning,and the Los Angeles Kings,because all those teams should be contending for a playoff run,and only two of those teams are in playoff position,right now(Sharks,and Blackhawks),and they should be much better...
the reason that i keep on ripping the Sharks is that they are a playoff-caliber team,and recently,they lost to Columbus,6-3,when the Blue Jackets lost to the Red Wings,5-2,in their last game... all of the teams named earlier have had very sub-par seasons,and all their weaknesses have been in goal(giving up easy goals,or goals,at critical times),or very pathetic defense around the net,and then not scoring in games,that should have been won over inferior,or simply bad,teams,but lost... i may not like the Sharks,or Blackhawks,because of intense rivalries,with the Red Wings,but i want to see good hockey from every team that i have named,and they have been very average this year,and to me,that is a great disappointment...

Red Wings' news,and schedule...

Nicklas Lidstrom will miss the Red Wings' next two games:Friday,against Minnesota,and Sunday,against Chicago,and will be looked at,by doctors,Monday...
Wild/Red Wings,Friday...
Blackhawks/Red Wings,Sunday...
Red Wings/Philadelphia Flyers,(Tuesday)March 6th...

correction...

OOPS!!!!! MADE A STUPID MISTAKE!!! San Jose does play Buffalo,tonight!!!

tidbit...

of the 31 days of March,the San Jose Sharks have seventeen games this month(and they do not play tonight),and they play the Phoenix Coyotes,March 24th...

commentary...

this is a post about the entire Central Division:
the Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues are battling it out for the division lead,tied in points,as of right now,and St. Louis has one more regulation win,than Detroit,which goes to the first tie breaker,for division champion... Detroit has two more wins than St. Louis,so if they have equal regulation wins,at end of season,Detroit wins division...
the Nashville Predators are six points out the fight,for the division... they are a playoff team,in detail,and they play playoff-type hockey,most of the time,because they are very good on team defense,and they capitalize on other team's mistakes,and they have one of the best goaltenders,in the NHL,but their overall firepower on offense comes off their swarming defense around their net,and they are very dangerous...
the Chicago Blackhawks are one of the biggest disappointments,so far,this season,and an enigma to the rest of the NHL... they are twelve points out of the division lead... they are supposed to be a powerhouse,and yet,their goaltending,right now,may be the biggest disappointment,to the team,because the goaltending was supposed to be a strength,at beginning of season,and they simply give up too many easy goals,at critical times...
the Columbus Blue Jackets,i have to say,are the biggest disappointment,in the NHL... they were supposedly were aiming for a playoff run,and yet,they are points-wise,the worst team,in the NHL... they brought in some veterans,to bolster their lineup,and help defensively,with their goaltending,but Steve Mason,who won the Calder Trophy as a rookie has won only 8 games,has a save percentage of way under .900,and his goals against average,is at 3.49 goals/per game...

trivia...

Steve Yzerman became the first player,in Red Wings' history,to score 60 goals,in a NHL season,on March 1st,1989...