game score...

Washington Capitals 3,New York Rangers 2... series tied,1-1...

amazing hockey feat...

on April 24th,the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers beat the Youngstown Phantoms,6-3... i normally do not mention the USHL,but Alex Broadhurst,a Chicago Blackhawks' draft pick,has done something that very few hockey players will ever do-score three short-handed goals,in the game,a short-handed goal,in each period,or a short-handed hat trick,in the game... way to go,Alex...

game score...

Los Angeles Kings 5,St. Louis Blues 2... Blues down,two games,to none...

commentary...

simply said,i do not like any of the teams,in the Central Division,besides the Red Wings,so i am very happy that the Nashville Predators are down 2 games,to none,to the Phoenix Coyotes,who beat the Chicago Blackhawks(yay!!!),in first round,and i am very surprised that the St. Louis Blues lost their opening second round game,to the Los Angeles Kings... you think i would root for any Central Division team,besides the Red Wings? HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

game score...

Phoenix Coyotes 5,Nashville Predators 3... Phoenix up,2 games to none...

Red Wings' trivia...

even though "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe had his number nine jersey retired,in Detroit,what number did he wear during his rookie year,in 1946-1947? answer:number seventeen...

game score...

Philadelphia Flyers 4,New Jersey Devils 3,overtime...

game scores...

Los Angeles Kings 3,St. Louis Blues 1...
New York Rangers 3,Washington Capitals 1...
last night:
Phoenix Coyotes 4,Nashville Predators 3,overtime...

Happy Birthday,Nick!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! Red Wings' captain Nicklas Lidstrom turned 42,today....

Eastern Conference playoff seedings...

New Jersey Devils(6th seed)/Philadelphia Flyers(5th seed)...
Washington Capitals(7th seed)/New York Rangers(1st seed)...

Red Wings' news...

Dan Cleary played this season,for the Red Wings,on a really nasty messed up knee,and still played 75 games this season... talk about high tolerance for pain... you have a winner!!!!!!! he is having knee surgery next week,and then rehab.. i expect him sometime early next season...

Red Wings' news...

eight current Red Wings,and a Grand Rapids Griffiths' player.will represent their home countries,in the IIHF World Championship,May 4th through May 20th,in Helsinki,Finland,and Stockholm,Sweden... they are:Justin Abdelkader,and Jimmy Howard:Team USA,Henrik Zetterberg,Johan Franzen,and Jonathan Ericsson,Team Sweden,Pavel Datsyuk,and Valtteri Flippula,Team Russia,Jakub Kindl,Team Czech Republic,and the Grand Rapids Griffiths' player,Tomas Tatar,Team Slovakia...

NHL news...

three game sevens in the Eastern Conference:
Ottawa Senators vs New York Rangers,tomorrow...
Washington Capitals vs. Boston Bruins,Thursday...
New Jersey Devils vs. Florida Panthers,Thursday...

Western Conference playoff seedings...

Los Angeles Kings(8th seed) vs. St. Louis Blues(2nd seed)
Nashville Predators(5th seed) vs. Phoenix Coyotes...(3rd seed)
second round will not start until everyone is in second round,in both conferences...
lower seed gets home ice in second round...

injury update...

good news:Daniel Alfordsson,of the Ottawa Senators,is expected to play,against the New York Rangers,tonight...

five reasons why Sharks lost...

the San Jose Sharks averaged 2.96 goals,in 2010-2011(sixth,in NHL),but averaged 2.67 goals/game this season,2011-2012(thirteenth in NHL)...
the front office did very little,at trade deadline(a few minor deals,that did not pan out,too well)with team help(scoring goals)...
the Sharks played St. Louis four times,during the regular season,being shutout twice(once by each goaltender),and lost every game,in regulation,and scoring only three goals,in the four games,being out-scored 11-3...
their penalty kill was 29th in the NHL,all season...
their blockbuster trades,at beginning at the season(with Minnesota Wild):Brent Burns,in 2010-2011,had 17 goals,and 29 assists,for 46 points(all career highs);this season,had 11 goals,and 26 assists,for 37 points,and Martin Havlat played only 22 regular season games,and missed 39 games,with hamstring surgery...

commentary...

the previous question does not need an answer,but this has been a strange year... the defending Stanley Cup champion,Boston Bruins,is in a seventh game,against Washington Capitals,on Wednesday... Detroit Red Wings,San Jose Sharks,Pittsburgh Penguins,and the President's Trophy winner,Vancouver Canucks,are all out,in the first round,and the Chicago Blackhawks,along with the New York Rangers,both face elimination games,against Phoenix Coyotes(Chicago),and the Ottawa Senators(Rangers),tomorrow... with eighth seeded Ottawa leading the New York Rangers,3-2,in games,this has been a very odd year,so far...

question???

is this the year for a sleeper team to win Stanley Cup?

major NHL upset...

Los Angeles Kings 2,Vancouver Canucks 1,overtime... eighth seeded Kings beat President's Trophy winner,four games,to one game...

IIHF World Under-18 Hockey championships...

United States 7,Sweden 0... fourth straight gold medal,at World under-18 IIHF Championship... third straight year that the United States has beaten Sweden for the gold medal...
Canada 6,Finland 5,overtime,for the bronze medal... first medal,for Canada,of any kind,in four years...

game score,and commentary...

St. Louis Blues 3,San Jose Sharks 1... Sharks took the gas tonight... at least,they also only lasted five games,against the Blues... however,after winning first game,in double overtime,3-2,the Sharks did lose four straight... there should be upheaval,in front office,in San Jose,this summer... after two straight years of reaching the Western Conference Finals,the Sharks thought they had the pieces of a consistent winner,and they got steamrolled by the Blues... if you want to compare the Red Wings,to the Sharks:they are two disappointments of teams,this year,with some of the same problems,no doubt,but where is the difference is in the front office... i simply would take Red Wings' general manager Ken Holland,and assistant general manager Jim Nill,to fix the "holes"(as you put it),in the team,over the front office,of the Sharks(basically because,of team pedigree,of winning four Stanley Cups,and twenty-one straight Stanley Cup playoff appearances)... i have always said that the Sharks are a very good team,but honestly,having a good regular season team,does not do much,if your team goes down in flames,almost every playoff year... the last time the Red Wings got tossed in first round,was in 2006,against Edmonton,in six games,and since then have had a Stanley Cup winner(2008),and have had a seven game Finals' loss,to Pittsburgh,in 2009... if i was San Jose,i would cut the "dead weight",in front office,and understand that winning the Stanley Cup,is very,very tough,and stop trying to stock up,with free agents,and just go back to basics(they really do have a really good team)... the biggest flops,of a trade was when they traded Devin Setoguchi,and Dany Heatley,to the Minnesota Wild,for Brent Burns,and Martin Havlat... another difference between the Sharks,and Red Wings,is in their minor league system,because when Red Wings' prospects come up to Detroit,from Grand Rapids(Griffiths),they have enough experience to stick with the Red Wings,and when was the last time that you heard of the Sharks' American Hockey League team(Worcester,Mass Sharks),and a prospect coming up to the Sharks... being a true hockey fan,i am more disappointed in the Sharks' season,than i am in the Red Wings' season,even though both started off very well,and died a miserable exit,to a season...

Breaking news...

Phoenix Coyotes' Raffi Torres has been hammered with a 25 game suspension,as a repeat offender,under the collective bargaining agreement,for his flying(leaving his feet)hit,on Marian Hossa,of the Chicago Blackhawks,forfeiting $533,536.50,of his salary...

comments...

i am extremely disappointed in the way the Red Wings played,and it goes beyond simple X's,and O's... i am not a fan that really criticizes the Red Wings,too easily,but i expected a better playoff run than what happened... i watched 86,of the 87 games that the Red Wings played,live,and for most of the season,they played well... i felt the same way,in 2006,when Edmonton Oilers beat the Red Wings,in six games,but then,i thought they out-played Edmonton,but for a few weird puck bounces,and yet,this year,they simply got beat by the Nashville Predators,and the way that they played,in most of the third periods,of the games that they won... to the victors,go the spoils... congrats,Nashville... i give a grudging respect,to you...

the simple game of hockey...

there is a game called hockey played by many people... it is done on a crystal sheet of ice,and skated by many children,in many places-ice rinks,frozen ponds,under mountains,backyards,and in places,near and far... children learn the game,from generations of players,who know the game,and skating around sheets of ice,small,and wide,in places,like a five mile sheet of ice,on the Ottawa River,in front of the Canadian Parliament building in Ottawa,the Kremlin in Moscow,the Strip,in Las Vegas,or even do it in the middle of the street,in British Columbia,where teams of hockey players play for the World Title,of Street Hockey... they even come from different countries to compete... however,the simple beauty of the game is played out almost every day,by a child skating alone on a pond,waving a crooked stick,at a puck,into an empty net... now that is the game of simple joy-hockey!!!!!

comments...

tomorrow,i will give an analysis of the entire Red Wings' season.... on second thought,i may take the day off,about talking about the Red Wings... love hockey,so will talk about other things,tomorrow... extremely disappointed in the Red Wings' effort...

game score,and comment...

Predators 2,Red Wings 1... when you score only nine goals,in five games(1.8 goals per game),and Nicklas Lidstrom does not get a single point,in the entire series(first time,in forty-seven playoff series),and in the series you get out-scored,7-3,in "money" time,in third period,you simply deserve to lose,period...

IIHF World Under-18 Hockey championships...

gold medal game:Sweden vs. United States(three time defending champion)...
bronze medal game:Canada vs Finland....

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings plan no lineup changes,for tonight's game.... let us just play the game,and see what happens!!!!!!!!!

NHL news...

Hal Gill,of the Nashville Predators,has ruled out,of game five tonight,against the Red Wings(lower body injury-got hit in ankle,by puck,i believe)... i expect him to play sometime,in the series,probably in the next game(if Detroit does win,tonight)... if Nashville does advance,he will play in the playoffs...

game score,and comment...

St. Louis Blues 2,San Jose Sharks 1... Sharks lost both games,in San Jose,to go down,three games to one game... the Chicago Blackhawks,Detroit Red Wings,Vancouver Canucks,and San Jose Sharks,all are down,3 games to one game-that means every series,in Western Conference,has one team down 3 games,to one game... which team,or teams,come back to win? anybody's guess!!!

NHL history...

Martin Brodeur,of the New Jersey Devils,got his NHL playoff record 24th career playoff shutout,by blanking the Florida Panthers,tonight,4-0,passing Patrick Roy,of the Colorado Avalanche,and earlier,he also played for the Montreal Canadiens...

commentary...

the Red Wings' 2011-2012 season has been very streaky and inconsistent,in total... being a fan of the Red Wings has given me indigestion,at some times,this season... winning 23 home games in a row will always be a highlight of this season,but an inconsistent power play,and lack of team offense,has also been evident this season... the Red Wings' most valuable player has been goaltender Jimmy Howard,but coming off a broken finger,and a tender groin injury,has dampened his overall record... what started off to be a Vesina Trophy-type season,has turned into just a very good season,for him... Henrik Zetterberg has been a very good player,the last 65,or so,games,of the season,averaging almost a point a game... Nicklas Lidstrom has had a very good year,but i may believe that he may feel a little letdown,missing 11-12 games,down the home stretch of this season,and not getting back to his usual stellar play... Pavel Datsyuk was on pace,for a very good season,but injury have slowed down his usual great play,and the Red Wings have not played their best,since early February,and that is a disappointment to the whole team,and to the fans...
to advance past Nashville,they have to win three straight games,two of those games,in Nashville... not impossible,but they are making Pekka Rinne look like Montreal Canadiens' Ken Dryden,who won the Stanley Cup,before winning the Calder Trophy(rookie of the year),when he backstopped the Canadiens,to the Stanley Cup,with only a handful of NHL games,after being recalled from the minors,late in the 1970-71 NHL season(he played only six NHL games,that season,before the Stanley Cup playoffs)...
enough talk about what happened,but this season will be a sad one,unless the Red Wings show some grit,in the games remaining,no matter,if one is remaining,or many more... the heart of a champion will be shown,win,or lose,because the Red Wings will play for team,and personal pride... they know what they need to do... i am not saying that the Red Wings have not played badly,against the Nashville Predators,but stupid team mistakes have cost them,at least,one game,so they need to come out "on time",and play their best game,of the season,one game at a time...

NHL news...

Phoenix Coyotes' Raffi Torres suspended indefinitely,pending an in-person hearing,Friday,for his vicious hit on Marian Hossa,of the Chicago Blackhawks,and it may have been a late hit...... referees missed hit,on Hossa... there was no penalty,with the hit... Torres left his feet,and hit Hossa with shoulder,to Hossa's jaw... Hossa left ice on stretcher... i blame NHL director of player safety,Brendan Shanahan,for being lenient with supplemental discipline,this Stanley Cup playoff season,and now this,what next,SLAP SHOT(great funny movie,with the late Paul Newman)...

blooming right,again...

if you remember what goaltender did i rank number one,talent-wise,this season... if you said Pekka Rinne,of the Nashville Predators,you guessed right... he has played very,very good,against the Red Wings,in this series,and he is the only major difference in this series... he has played very well,in series,and Jimmy Howard has played only human... this series is proving my goaltender rankings,overall,because Jonathan Quick,of the Los Angeles Kings,another top-five goaltender,in my rankings,is also playing on his head,in leading Los Angeles Kings,to a 3-0 stranglehold lead,in their first round series,over the President's Trophy winner,Vancouver Canucks... you can tell that i truly know,and love the game of hockey... i hate to give Rinne credit,but it is a grudging respect that i give him...

game score,and commentary...

Predators 3,Red Wings 1... in a game that Detroit dominated for two periods,the third period was simply the downfall,of Red Wings... winning goal was caused by a team,that honestly went for the body,and not the puck,and Kevin Klein scored an basically empty net goal,when three Red Wings chased Martin Erat,into the boards,and pulled Jimmy Howard out of net,as Klein received a very pretty pass,in front of Red Wings' net,and not even a moose could have missed that shot,when Howard,who should have stayed in net,but did not stay in net,and Klein bunted shot into goal,for a 2-1 lead... the Predators stayed around long enough to have the Red Wings implode,and steal both games,in Detroit... i am frankly disappointed in the Red Wings' game,and yet,i have to give Pekka Rinne,the Predators' penalty kill,and defense around the net,credit,throughout this series,so far... it has been very good... not over yet,but can Detroit win,in Nashville? that is a very open question,and needs to be answered...

Brendan,was it,against the rules???

i honestly believe that NHL director of player safety Brendan Shanahan has really no clue,on how to discipline NHL players during the Stanley Cup playoffs...
four examples:to only fine Shea Weber,for his WWE-style tactics,on slamming Henrik Zetterberg's head,not once,but twice,into the glass,and to consider it to be injurious,before leveling a suspension,was wrong... Brendan,was it against the rules?
Matt Carkner,of the Ottawa Senators,pounding the crap out of Brian Boyle,of the New York Rangers,with multiple shots to the body,and head,while Boyle was sprawled on the ice,and only give him an one game suspension,because Boyle was not injured,was,and is a joke... Brendan,was it against the rules?
the pier-six line brawls,in games,between Pittsburgh Penguins,and Philadelphia Flyers,and the game between the St. Louis Blues,and the San Jose Sharks,in which Dominic Moore,suffered a broken nose,after being "sucker-punched"(coach Todd McLellan's words,not mine)in the face,after the game... both brawls were ugly,and devastating,in scope,to the image,of the NHL... are the players going on a jamboree picnic,and sing?,or are you going to do something about this circus...
by the way,giving a three game suspension,to New York Rangers' Carl Hagelin,when he way-laid Daniel Alfordsson,of the Ottawa Senators.with a vicious elbow,during the series... oh,i forgot,did Alfordsson suffer a concussion,earlier in the season,in the same building,against the New York Rangers,and no one got suspended that time... oh,by the way,reports do say that Alfordsson does have a concussion,this time,too... only three games? Brendan,was it against the rules?

game score,and comment...

St. Louis Blues 4,San Jose Sharks 3... Sharks down two games,to one game... home ice back,with the Blues...

Red Wings' news...

simply said,Darren Helm,of the Red Wings,is very angry,and frustrated,about the last two injuries that he has suffered,recently... the sprained knee that cost him the last ten games,of the NHL season,and the lacerated tendons in his right forearm,that was caused by the skate,of Alexander Radulov,of the Nashville Predators(he does not blame Radulov,at all)... it is the second time in two seasons that a Red Wings' player have had their arms/wrists sliced by a skate blade(Mike Modano,last year)... it was done in the first period,in the first game,of the series,with the Nashville Predators,so i can understand his anger,and frustration... he will fully recover in time for training camp,the Red Wings have reported...

game score,and commentary...

Predators 3,Red Wings 2... Nashville only had four shots,in third period,but a Red Wings' turnover caused a 3 on 1 breakaway,to basically ice game,with 3:30,left in game,with a 3-1 lead... Henrik Zetterberg scored in last minute,to make it close,but too little,too late... Nashville survived nineteen shots,by Red Wings,in third(basically the same way that Detroit did,in game two)...all three games have been by 3-2 scores... does it remind you,of anything(San Jose,last year?)... the biggest play in game was a tipped puck,by stick of Predators' Kevin Klein,off a shot,by the Red Wings' Cory Emmerton,as Detroit had a 2 on 1 breakaway,on wide open net,in third period... Shea Weber,Klein,and Sergei Kostitsyn scored for the Predators,and Pavel Datsyuk,and Henrik Zetterberg scored,for the Red Wings...

game in progress,2nd intermission...

Predators 2,Red Wings 1,after two periods... Johan Franzen just missed tying game with goal,at end of second period(by about six inches),as clock hit 0.00,in building... correct call,by referees... Red Wings on 1:49 power play,to start third period...

game in progress...

Predators 2 Red Wings 1... just as i put on blogpost,Pavel Datsyuk,of the Red Wings,steals puck,in back of Predators' net,and jams,and wraps puck,into net,behind Predators' goaltender Pekka Rinne,to make it,2-1...

commentary...

i have to admit that Nashville Predators(right now)are playing much better,than the Red Wings... what did i say:stay out of the penalty box,for Detroit and,simply said,they are not staying out of there,and Detroit down 2-0,and on a two-man advantage for Nashville,now they have killed off the front end of the two-man advantage,and now both penalties,but the Red Wings have done nothing on offense,and hung goaltender Jimmy Howard out to dry... Red Wings have killed off fourteen teen,of fifteen penalties,but offense has done south for the winter... now another penalty... here they go,again...

commentary...

i do not feel sorry for a whining coach,one Todd McLellan,of the San Jose Sharks,after the game,tonight... he complained about,"a sucker punch",of one of his players,that caused a broken nose to Dominic Moore,but honestly i find it incredulous that you get whining about the rough stuff,when both teams combined for 88 penalty minutes,and 15 penalties,including three fights,after the game,and before that,one Sharks' player(TJ Galiardi)actually cracked a Blues' player's(Andy McDonald)helmet,like a egg,with a charging penalty,in the third period... playoff hockey is supposed to be tougher than the regular season... Todd,you are supposed to be a great coach(his playoff record is:20-21)... however,getting absolutely nothing,behind two different goaltenders,is the game,not mugging each other,in a pier-six brawl... do me a favor:shut up,and grow up,and stop whining,Todd!!!!!!! by the way,Todd,the Sharks suffered only the third combined shutout,in NHL playoff history... that is the difference,between the Red Wings,and Sharks:the Red Wings settled the extra crud,on the ice,in game two,with the Predators,by beating them,but the Sharks fought like total thugs,with the Blues,and then whined about it,after the game,to the press... simply,and totally,no class!!!!!!!

game highlight,or lowlight?,and trivia...

the first goal,by the Blues,was credited to Vladimir Sobotka,as he shot puck to Sharks' goaltender Antti Niemi... instead of covering puck,the puck bounced over Niemi's left shin pad,and behind him,and then Marc-Edouard Vlasic,of the Sharks,instead of sliding puck away from net,he chipped puck,into his own net,behind,Niemi... trivia:of the last seven overtime playoff games that the Sharks have played over the last two years,they have won six of them...

game score,and commentary...

St. Louis Blues 3,San Jose Sharks 0... Sharks shut out,and third period dissolve into a pier-six brawl,including after the game... i do not like either team,but in my opinion,i am glad someone took both teams down a peg... last year,the Sharks tried to rough house the Red Wings,in first three games,of their series,so San Jose needed someone to put them into their place,and i have to say that the St. Louis Blues are not a pushover of a team,at all.. whoever wins this series is going to be beat up,physically,because they do not like each other,and it is OLD TIME HOCKEY!!!!!!! St. Louis got under the Sharks' players' skin,in that wild third period,and both teams went at it,with abandon,and gusto... OH YEAH,BOYS!!!!!!

note...

Red Wings/Predators series,tied 1-1... Detroit now has home ice...

game score,and comment...

Red Wings 3,Predators 2... Shea Weber,for the Predators,scored,but Jimmy Howard played his best game,and Red Wings played a very,very good defensive game to beat the Predators...

game in progress,2nd intermission...

Red Wings 3,Predators 1... both teams scored within a minute of each other... Andrei Kostitsyn scored for the Predators,then Johan Franzen,of the Red Wings,scored 56 seconds later,when puck went off his leg,past Pekka Rinne,into net... side note:Todd Bertuzzi,and Shea Weber fought very early,in first period,to send message to the Predators that the crud that went on,after game one,would not be tolerated,by the Red Wings... rather clean game,i have to admit,so far,tonight...

game in progress...

Red Wings 2,Predators 0,after one period... Ian White,and Cory Emmerton scored for the Red Wings...

commentary...

for the people who may disagree with my opinion that the Sharks are "ultimate choke artists",in the Stanley Cup playoffs,tough:let us look at team history,simply,the Sharks have been a very good regular season team,winning a President's Trophy,and upsetting the Red Wings,and the Blues,in different years,along the way,but they have suffered embarrassing exits,too,all before the second round,or in the second round... they have been to three Western Conference Finals,in their team history,but,i believe,they have won only two,or three games,in those series,getting swept,by the Chicago Blackhawks,in 2010,and losing to the Vancouver Canucks,in five games,in 2011... this is basically the same team,who lost to Anaheim,recently,after winning the President's Trophy,in six games... i believe that was in 2009... the fact is that the Sharks have the same team chemistry that they had,in years past,and players come and go,and nothing seems to change,in San Jose... they stock up with free agents every year,and where does it get them,year after year? simply said:nowhere near the Stanley Cup... the team is supposed to improve,but until a Stanley Cup banner is raised in San Jose,the front office is simply the worst front office,in NHL,and the fans will suffer(expecting the team to be good,and they do the mental dance in believing that it is their year,and feeling let down,by the team)... beating Detroit in the playoffs does not any good,unless you beat the other teams in Western Conference,to get to the Stanley Cup Finals... that is the ultimate goal of the team,and before you criticize me,about the lack of Stanley Cups,in Detroit,recently,let me ask a question:how many Stanley Cups have Red Wings won,since 1995? answer:four Stanley Cups,and two losses,in the Finals(New Jersey Devils,1995,in a sweep,and Pittsburgh Penguins,2009,in seven games),and how many Stanley Cup Finals' appearances,and Stanley Cups,have the Sharks won,in team history? answer:nil,nada,and none?

schedule...

Red Wings/Predators,tonight,game two...

game score,and commentary...

San Jose Sharks 3,St. Louis Blues 3,double overtime... i really do not care who wins this series,because i really "hate" both teams(laughing),because the Sharks are the Sharks,and the Blues are in the Central Division,so i "despise" them(laughing)... however,the Sharks really need to win series,against the Blues,because they need to advance,to validate the front office's vision,because the front office does not seem to have a clue on how to put together a consistent playoff series winner,and only a Stanley Cup appearance,or a Stanley Cup will make their fans happy,or are they the ultimate choke artists,by bowing out early,for the eighth time,in last ten years?

injury update...

the Detroit Red Wings reported through their head coach,Mike Babcock,that Darren Helm did not suffer any nerve damage,to his right forearm(lacerated tendons),and should make a full recovery,and be ready for training camp...

NHL news...

Shea Weber got a $2,500 dollar fine from the NHL,for his WWE-style "turnbuckle" shot,of Henrik Zetterberg's head,off the glass... why so little,in terms,of a fine? it is in the collective bargaining agreement that any player can not be fined more than $2,500,i believe... NHL supplemental discipline is a total farce!!!!!!!!!!

commentary...

simply said,the Predators got every break,and puck bounce,last night,and it was nasty,but the Predators may have lighted a fuse,in the Red Wings that they may want to extinguish,but can not,because the penalties they can live with,but the play after the play(the extra shots when play stopped,especially the double tap,of Henrik Zetterberg's head off the glass,at end of game)showed the utter contempt of the Predators toward the Red Wings,and maybe just a little over-confidence,on their part... unfortunately,they seem to forget that the game score,was 3-2,not 8-2,and that the Red Wings had,at least,two stone cold chances,in the game,to score goals,from inches away,and yet,the puck bounces did not go the Red Wings' way... besides the referees' insistence to call the game tighter than a lid on the pickle jar,they missed quite a few calls,on both teams,and the referees simply stunk... as a fan,i feel the Red Wings did not need extra motivation,to beat the Predators,but the shots that the Predators put on the Red Wings,with relish,will be remembered,if not in this series,then next season,and the seasons to come... Coach Trotz may want to apologize,and put out the fire,in the Red Wings' belly,but i am sorry,Barry,you lose,and you may have started a real nasty fight that you simply can not win,ultimately...

commentary...

i respect Barry Trotz,of the Nashville Predators,as a coach,but,honestly,as a person,i really have no use for him... i know that he has to defend his players,but to defend Shea Weber's actions,after the horn(Weber slammed Henrik Zetterberg's head,into glass,by grabbing his head,and slamming it,not once,but twice)and saying that Zetterberg hit Weber in the head,before he grabbed Zetterberg,is despicable(Zetterberg did hit him in neck,and upper back,replays showed)...
whether Weber gets supplemental discipline,is debatable,but what Trotz said,blaming Zetterberg,is deplorable...
simply said,i do not like Barry Trotz,because he is a whiner,and simply a punk...
in other words,IT'S ON,BOYS!!!!!!!!!

note...

bad news:Darren Helm,of the Red Wings suffered lacerated tendons,in right forearm,midway into first period,of game,with Nashville(a 3-2 loss),underwent surgery today,and should be ready for training camp... a bigger loss than people realize for the Red Wings... get well,Darren....

game score,and commentary...

Predators 3,Red Wings 2... not much difference between these teams... both teams had chances to score goals... side note:Predators' Shea Weber grabbed Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg's head,right after the horn,and slammed it,into the glass... supplemental discipline should be forthcoming,by Brendan Shanahan,director of NHL player safety... bounces went Nashville's way,and referees had a "Bataan Death March",to penalty box,for both teams... at times,it was very funny,and choppy,in terms of teams' rhythm... Gabriel Bourque had two goals,for Nashville,and Henrik Zetterberg,along with Tomas Holmstrom scored,for the Red Wings... if Weber is suspended by Shanahan,that will be as big of a loss,as Nicklas Lidstrom would be,for the Red Wings... it was a rather nasty game,between these two teams... Nashville may be favored,but there is very little difference between these two teams... as a Red Wings' fan,i know that Detroit could win the series,and i know it in my heart,and Barry Trotz,and the Predators should feel lucky to win game one,because in last two periods,the Red Wings truly did out-play the Predators,and the Predators know it,but the bounces of the puck did not go the Red Wings' way....

game in progress...

Predators 1,Red Wings 0... Nashville had 1:14 two man advantage,and did not score,on that power play... referees have had tight checked,and called game... the missed chance on that power play may be turning point,of game,if Red Wings come back to win game... puck goes into Red Wings' net,past Howard,off Red Wings' Brad Stuart's left skate,credited to Paul Gaustad,for Nashville...

note...

good news,for the Red Wings:Darren Helm is playing for the Red Wings,tonight...

commentary...

the two hockey players who will decide this series,between Nashville,and Detroit are the goaltenders,ultimately(Pekka Rinne,and Jimmy Howard)... both teams are potent on offense... Nashville slightly better on defense,and goaltending,i have to admit,but Jimmy Howard will play the best that he can play... by most of the pundits,Nashville is favored to win this series,and end the Red Wings' season,but these teams split the season series,at 3,and Pekka Rinne can be beat in goal,by moving him side to side,and faking him out of the net,at the right angles of the shots taken by the Red Wings... Jimmy Howard had a superb season going numbers-wise,until his groin gave him major pain,and trouble,and he missed games,and he is just starting to get his game,on track,but honestly,the question remains:is it just too little,too late?
the Red Wings did win 23 straight home games,but also had two six game losing streaks,this season,so they have been very streaky,and inconsistent this season,and yet,when healthy,they are very dangerous,but a big player is not healthy,for the Red Wings-Darren Helm-who is the speedburner on stretch passes into the opponent's zone,on breakaways that the Wings have not had that option,recently,which had limited the Wings' offense,but good news:there is a possibility that Helm will be back sometime in this series,if the series goes the long way(six,or seven games)...
both teams are very good at home,but both teams have won games on the opponent's ice,this season... both blue line defenses are superb,and yet,Shea Weber,for the Predators has,perhaps,the hardest shot(over 105 mph),in the NHL,and Nashville had the number one power play,in NHL,i believe,and the Red Wings are the best even strength(percentage-wise)team,in NHL,so the keys to Red Wings' glory,is not to take many penalties,move,and pound Pekka Rinne,with shots,improve their power play,and have Howard steal a game,with a superb goaltending effort,and the keys to Predators' glory,is pound Jimmy Howard,with shots,take penalties,and punish the Red Wings with that very potent power play,and have Rinne steal a game,with a superb goaltending effort...
a weird puck bounce normally decides a game,or two,in a series,like this,but the better team does win 99.9%,of the time...

memorable anniversary...

today is the 30th anniversary of the "Miracle on Westchester",in which the Los Angeles Kings erased a 5-0 deficit,by scoring five goals,in third period,against the Edmonton Oilers,in the third game,of then what was a five game first round series... it is the game that is most remembered,of probably the biggest upset,in a NHL playoff series,in NHL history...

playoff schedule...

Red Wings/Nashville Predators,Wednesday...
Red Wings/Nashville,Friday...
Nashville/Red Wings,Sunday...
Nashville/Red Wings,April 17th,2012...
*Red Wings/Nashville,April 20,2012...
*Nashville/Red Wings,April 22,2012...
*Red Wings/Nashville,April 24,2012...

trivia...

April 9th 1996:Red Wings win their 60th game,of that season... before that year,the other team to do so:1976-1977 Montreal Canadiens...

greetings...

HAPPY EASTER,AND PASSOVER,FOLKS!!!!!!!!

Western Conference playoff seedings...

San Jose Sharks/St. Louis Blues(2nd seed)...
Los Angeles Kings/Vancouver Canucks(President's Trophy Winner-best regular-season team,in NHL)...

blog statement...

sorry,folks!!!!!!! this is the last day of the 2011-2012 NHL season,so i have been on here,all day... tomorrow is Easter Sunday... i am taking the day off...

NCAA Frozen Four National Championship game...

Boston College Eagles 4,Ferris State Bulldogs 1...

Stanley Cup playoff seedings...

Western Conference playoff seedings:
Chicago Blackhawks(6th seed)/Phoenix Coyotes(3rd seed)(Pacific Division champions)...
Red Wings/Nashville Predators...

Eastern Conference playoff seedings:
Ottawa Senators/New York Rangers(1st seed(Atlantic Division Champions)...
Washington Capitals/Boston Bruins(2nd seed)Northeast Division Champions...
New Jersey Devils/Florida Panthers(3rd seed)(Southeast Division Champions)...
Philadelphia Flyers/Pittsburgh Penguins(4th seed)...

the last game of season will decide playoff seeding,along with Edmonton Oilers/Vancouver Canucks,which will decide the President's Trophy,if Vancouver gets,at least,a point,with a regulation/overtime loss,or win,or a regulation win

game score,and comment...

Pittsburgh Penguins 4,Philadelphia Flyers 2... Evgeni Malkin scored his 50th goal,today,and Philadelphia/Pittsburgh play each other in a Eastern Conference first round series,and it may be the nastiest series,this playoff season,because they simply do not like each other,at all...

classy fans....

Steven Stamkos,of the Tampa Bay Lightning scored his 60th goal,of the season,and the fans of Winnipeg gave him a standing ovation... what class!!!!!!

strange place to wed...

there was a wedding on the ice at Joe Louis Arena,yesterday(Good Friday)... the bride and groom watched the Red Wings' game,today...

game score,and commentary...

Chicago Blackhawks 3,Red Wings 2,shootout loss... Red Wings tied game,at 2,with 46.4 seconds left,to get a point,and fifth place in Western Conference... Johan Franzen,and Pavel Datsyuk,who put tying goal behind Blackhawks' Corey Crawford,scored to erase a 2-0 Blackhawks' lead... i have to admit that Chicago is good,but Red Wings refused to just roll over,and give Chicago fifth place,which is very big,in the Stanley Cup playoffs... now for my opinion:the seedings are very important,because if you get a hot team going into the playoffs,with a goaltender on his game,you are in for a tough time,even if you have won the Presidents' Trophy...

playoff seeding for the Red Wings...

Red Wings will play the Nashville Predators,in the first round... fifth place in the Western Conference... Nashville has two more regulation/overtime wins(right now-they play tonight,against Colorado Avalanche),so they get home ice,against Detroit,but honestly,it is a very good matchup for the Red Wings,because the last two years,they had to travel out West,in first round,and Nashville/Detroit is always a war,and very entertaining,for the fans... i would have hated to play out West(Phoenix Coyotes-the last two years),in first round(my opinion)... bring on the Stanley Cup playoffs...
side note:i have seen 81,of the 82 games that the Red Wings have played this year,live...

AHL,and ECHL update...

Grand Rapids Griffiths are 32-29-6-4,with 5 games left in the American Hockey League season(a 76 game season) they are playing today,against the Toronto Marlies(game in progress-0-0,in first period)... they are 13th,in Western Conference,right now...
Toledo Walleye finished 28-38-2-4(a 72 game season),in Eastern Conference,of the East Coast Hockey League...

pros,cons,and an enigma...

going into today's game,with the Chicago Blackhawks,the Red Wings are an enigma to me... i usually have a feel for how this team is going to do,in the Stanley Cup playoffs,but this team has been more up and down than they have been in previous years... pro:they won 23 straight home games,during the season... con:their power play has gone from fourth,in NHL,to 21st in the NHL,since December,2011... pro:they have Pavel Datsyuk,Tomas Holmstrom,Henrik Zetterberg,and Nicklas Lidstrom-all possible,and future Hall of Fame caliber players... con:they have given up eleven short-handed goals,the entire season(top five in that category-not good)... pro:they have a rock,in goal,in Jimmy Howard,who actually has had a very good season,if you look at his overall numbers,but an injury has slowed him down,and yet,when healthy,i would put him up against any goaltender,in NHL... pro:most of the season,their defense around the net,and Jimmy Howard has been excellent... con:injuries to eight major players(including both goaltenders)have put the Red Wings into a delicate position that normally,the Red Wings would not have been in,and that is on the road(it looks like),for the second year in a row,going into the playoffs... pro:the Red Wings have the talent,overall,to go a long way into the Stanley Cup playoffs,and are a dangerous team to play... con:the Red Wings have a losing record,on the road,which is odd to me,because they should be better... pro:with the right matchup,in first round,they could go a long way,in the Stanley Cup playoffs... con:with the wrong matchup,in the first round,they could be out in the first round... like i said,the Red Wings are an enigma to me,this season...

game that does matter...

Phoenix Coyotes 4,St. Louis Blues 1... if Phoenix beats the Minnesota Wild,tomorrow,they win the Pacific Division outright,no matter what the San Jose Sharks,and the Los Angeles Kings do tomorrow night...

odd,but true...

Ryan Clowe,of the San Jose Sharks did something illegal,last night... he broke up(stick-checked the puck)a breakup,during the last three and a half minutes,of regulation,of the Sharks' 6-5 shootout win,over the Los Angeles Kings... it would seem to be all right,except for one thing-he was sitting on the bench-and the referees missed it... it was supposed to be a two minute penalty,and both teams combining for seven power play goals,in game,that could have made the difference... a loophole in the NHL rulebook also means no supplemental discipline,for Clowe,either... so the Kings got hosed twice...

NCAA history,and commentary...

the 2012 Hobey Baker Award went to Jack Connolly,of the the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs... the award goes to NCAA's best college hockey player every year,just like the Heisman,for college football... Hobart Amory Hare "Hobey" Baker played at Princeton,played football,and hockey for the Tigers,served in WWI,was awarded the Croix de Guerre,by the government of France... he died in France,on December 21,1918,testing a recently-repaired plane,before leaving France,when his engine failed,after orders were given to go home... he tried to land plane,on runway,but he failed... after being buried in a small French military cemetary,he was buried,again,in 1921,by his mother,in his hometown of Bala Cynwyd,Pennsylvania... somber fact:the Croix de Guerre was awarded to his family,tonight,94 years,after his tragic death,by the government of France...

NCAA Hockey Frozen Four...

Ferris State 3,Union College 1...
Boston College 6,Minnesota 1...
Ferris State Bulldogs,and Boston College Eagles meet in NCAA Frozen Four National Championship Game...

game score,and commentary...

San Jose Sharks 6 Los Angeles Kings 5,shootout win... game number 1,230 will most likely decide Pacific Division crown,unless Phoenix Coyotes can beat both St. Louis Blues,in St. Louis,and the Minnesota Wild,in St. Paul,Minnesota,on back to back nights,this weekend(Friday,and Saturday)... the Sharks,and Kings are tied,for first,with Phoenix one point behind... if Kings win,and Phoenix gets three points(a win and point,for overtime/shootout loss),they will have the identical records,and goal differential will decide it(Los Angeles has that,on Phoenix)... if San Jose wins,in regulation/overtime,over the Kings,they have a tie with Phoenix,in regulation/overtime wins(right now),but Phoenix has to win one of their games,in regulation/overtime,to get tiebreaker,over San Jose Sharks...

game score,and comment...

Devils 2,Red Wings 1... after a dramatic win,over St. Louis,last night,Red Wings fall flat,and lose to New Jersey,2-1... ugly game....

schedule...

New Jersey Devils/Red Wings,tonight...

game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 3,Blues 2,shootout win... Red Wings overcame a short-handed goal,and a four on four goal,by the St. Louis Blues(a 2-0 deficit),late in third period to force a shootout... they scored twice,on Blues' goaltender Brian Elliott,who had not allowed a goal in 240 minutes,and 28 seconds... both goals were by Johan Franzen(the Mule),and the lone shootout goal,by anyone,was by Todd Bertuzzi,to win the game for the Red Wings,in a shootout... game turned when St. Louis scored a short-handed goal,when David Perron made a beautiful skate stop,of a Red Wings' pass,and went in all alone on Jimmy Howard,with a backhand,over a sprawled Howard(a beautiful shot),and then Andy McDonald scored to make it,2-0,3:01 later,and midway into third period,it was,2-0,Blues(they scored both goals,on a penalty,caused by a boarding(five minute)major,by Ryan Reames,of the Blues-Reames also got a game misconduct,and possible call,from Brendan Shanahan,NHL director of player safety...),and then Detroit finally broke the long drought,of Elliott not allowing a goal,by crisp passes,around the Blues' net,and Franzen burying two shots in close,to tie game,at two... both teams had chances to win game in overtime,and then Bertuzzi lifted a backhand over Elliott's head,that hit top twine of the net under the crossbar,just a gorgeous way to beat the Blues... it is the 12th straight 100+point season,for the Red Wings...

schedule...

Red Wings/St. Louis Blues,tonight...

game score...

San Jose Sharks 5,Dallas Stars 2... best performance by the Sharks,in over a month,i have to admit...

bad blood,between teams,and now coaches....

Philadelphia Flyers' head coach Peter Laviolette,and Pittsburgh Penguins' assistant coach Tony Granato were fined $10,000,and $2,500,respectively,for their actions,during line brawl,at 18:57,of the third period,of the Flyers/Penguins game,on April 1st...

OOPS,BRAINFREEZE...

i am a day behind,somehow... the Stars/Sharks game,in Dallas,that i noted for tonight,is tomorrow night,instead... sorry,folks!!!!!!!

NHL news...

like i said earlier,Kyle Quincey,of the Red Wings,deserved a suspension for his elbowing major(charging),against Tomas Kopecky,of the Florida Panthers... i am right:he was suspended for one game,by the NHL... he will forfeit $16,891.89,of salary...

fact...

what game is literally game number 1,230,on April 7th? Los Angeles Kings/San Jose Sharks,Saturday night... i always find it interesting to find out what game ends every season...

commentary...

the loser of the San Jose Sharks/Dallas Stars game,tonight,will be below the cutoff line(out of playoff seeding)... if San Jose wins,they control their own destiny,and a three point lead,over Dallas... if Dallas wins,they will jump over San Jose,and own the tie-breaker over the Sharks(number of regulation/overtime wins)... if San Jose loses,and they have to beat Los Angeles Kings,twice,in last two games,of the season... a tough road to hoe,for the Sharks,if they lose tonight...

opinion...

to be fair,the crunching hit,by Red Wings' Kyle Quincey,on former Red Wings' player,and current Florida Panther,Tomas Kopecky,that garnered a five minute major penalty,that the Red Wings killed off(it was eight seconds,after the Red Wings scored tying goal,by Jiri Hudler,in third period)deserves a suspension,by Brendan Shanahan,director and vice president of player safety... Kopecky wobbled off the ice into the locker room...

game score...

Red Wings 2,Panthers 1,shootout win... commentary,tomorrow morning...

schedule,and comment...

Florida Panthers/Red Wings,today... win gives Red Wings,fourth place in Western Conference(for now)... they need two points;one point does not change order,of Western Conference...