commentary...

as the New Year 2014 dawns,i noticed that my blog was very short in posting,about 250 posts,from 2012... for that,i am sorry... however,having a 113 day lockout,and some 34 missing games from,what i call the 2013 NHL season(in record book,it is the 2012-2013 NHL season)really sucks... however,for "that" season:there were absolutely ZERO games,in 2012,period... to tell you the absolute truth,i do love the beautiful game of hockey,but this season,it has been a real struggle to watch hockey-a real effect of the 113 day NHL lockout... last season was a real joke,because there were zero inter-conference games,and that really pissed me off... NHL Commissioner(for life? UGH!) Gary Bettman,i have not forgotten the misery,and days of anger at the lack of hockey,or forgiven the NHL,or YOU,for the pain of days of no hockey... i know,folks,that i am grumpy,but 2013 was not the best year for me,and i am so glad that 2014,is dawning,tomorrow... i am ending 2013,with a cold,and that really sucks,but good riddance,2013!!!!!!!

Red Wings' news...

Maple Leafs/Red Wings,2014 Bridgestone Winter Classic,at the "Big House"(Michigan Stadium),seating 110,000+ people,tomorrow... note:Jimmy Howard will start in goal,for the Red Wings.... Oy Vey!!!!!!!

Red Wings' game score,and comments...

Predators 6,Red Wings 4... in a wild game,Jimmy Howard,in his first game back from injury,looked very,very rusty,gave up five goals,and Red Wings' team defense really sucked throughout the game... now i remember why i "hate" Nashville... ugly game!!!!!!!!!!!

blog statement...

i will note tonight's Red Wings/Predators game score,but the commentary will be tomorrow... i am resting up,and getting well,today...

Red Wings' news,and comments...

Red Wings/Nashville Predators,tonight... old Central Division matchup... Predators/Red Wings really do not like each other... there are two things that i miss about the old Central Division:the games against the Chicago Blackhawks,of course,and actually seeing Nashville play the Red Wings... they were really nasty,and yet,very,very fun to watch the games!!!!!!!!

note...

oops,folks! i am not feeling well;have a cold... i mentioned the San Jose Sharks playing the Anaheim Ducks,yesterday... they dominated the game,and won handily,3-1... congrats,Sharks....

comments...

i normally do not mention other teams on here,except to preview them for the NHL season,but there is a game of interest to my father,as he is a San Jose Sharks' fan(OMG,that sucks-laughing)... San Jose play the Anaheim Ducks... it should be interesting,but there is one fact that you may not know... in last ten games,the Ducks are (believe it,or not)10-0-0,so good luck,Sharks,even though the game is in San Jose...

commentary...

it was a back and forth game,in the first two periods between the Red Wings and the Panthers... the Red Wings got off to a 2-0 lead after one period,and looked in control,but i will say one thing about these Panthers' team:they seem to play their best games against the Red Wings,wiping out a two goal lead,at least,in a game once,and have wiped out leads in both games,winning both games,2-1,and 3-2,in a shootout... again,they wiped a two goal lead,in the second period,by scoring the only goals in the period,but a two goal outburst,in thirty eight seconds,by the Red Wings provided the scoring edge for the Red Wings,as the Red Wings' goaltender Jonas Gustavsson made some absolutely great saves in last seconds,as the Red Wings literally hung on by their fingernails,in the last minute,to secure the much needed win,and two points...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 4,Panthers 3... commentary later...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Florida Panthers,tonight...

comments...

the NHL starts with ten games,tonight... however,the Red Wings play the Florida Panthers,tomorrow... simply said,the Red Wings have been inconsistent most of the year,so honestly,i do not know what to expect from them,but they are getting healthier week by week,so who knows???

news...

Christmas Break... games start tomorrow...

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!

NHL news...

Boston Bruins player Shawn Thornton lost his appeal of his fifteen game suspension of his "fight" penalty,when he punched,and injured Brooks Orpik,of the Pittsburgh Penguins,during their game,December 7th,2013... he was in violation of Rule 46.15...

blog statement...

day off... muscle spasms in back still too bad to type long...

Red Wings' game score,and comments...

Islanders 3,Red Wings 0... an ugly game for both teams,especially for the Red Wings... could have snored through this game... three goals,for Islanders,in bad first period,and defense sucked throughout... fourth time that the Red Wings have been shut out... anyone for NyQuil(laughing)??? how about something stronger???

Red Wings' news...

New York Islanders/Red Wings,tonight...

blog statement...

day off... watching football today... maybe online later,if i feel like it...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 5,Maple Leafs 4,shootout... as i type this,the Red Wings are tied in the third period with Toronto,at three apiece,but honestly that is not what i want to talk about... as this is the first year of the Red Wings being in the Eastern Conference,i will be harder on them knowing what teams are what in the Eastern Conference,next year... the Maple Leafs just scored their third straight goal to go up,4-3... a good game for the fans,but the Red Wings have done nothing offensively since the first period,and that sucks... it has not been a good game for the Red Wings,because their defense has collapsed since the first period,and momentum is with the Maple Leafs... Pavel Datsyuk just got robbed on a short-handed breakaway-he scored the Red Wings' first goal,but nobody else has done anything offensively for the Red Wings,since the end of the first period,when the Red Wings had a 3-1 lead... what poor team defense in last two periods for the Red Wings... Red Wings just tied game at four,when Tomas Tatar swept past the puck the Maple Leafs' goaltender(they pulled their starting goaltender,after two periods)... funny thing is that i did not start to live-type big plays in this game... the CBC announcer just mentioned that if they were playing by pre-2004 rules,three of the four goals that the Red Wings would be disallowed,and the Red Wings were in the blue paint,because the goals were scored within four feet of the goal,but the Maple Leafs have done the same thing to the Red Wings,too... there will be overtime... Red Wings have gotten a point,so far... another shootout... here they go,again... Red Wings have not won a shootout,since 2/28/2012(eleven straight losses,via shootout)... Pavel Datsyuk scored to ice shootout... that streak ends at eleven...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Maple Leafs,tonight...

rest of Red Wings' 2013 schedule...

Red Wings/Toronto Maple Leafs,December 21st... New York Islanders/Red Wings,December 23rd... Christmas Break... Red Wings/Florida Panthers,December 28th,and Red Wings/Nashville Predators,December 30th...

blog statement...

i will be online later today,or tonight... i do not feel well... however,nothing really wrong... just 54 year old pains,if you know what i mean... waking up has not been so easy for about 25 years... years "on the road",and just being a chronic klutz has taken its toll on my body... i have so many pains.... OWWWWWWWWW!!!!!

commentary...

Daniel Alfordsson scored twice,including twenty six seconds into the first period,along with game winner,on a power play,in overtime... Joakim Andersson scored in second period,as the Red Wings came out pissed,and determined to shoot more pucks to the net,from opening puck drop,and even though Calgary scored twice to tie game up twice(Mikael Backlund,in the first period,and Mark Giordano,in the second period),the Red Wings never trailed in game... they were sharp,and they had an edge to their play... it was Detroit's first overtime win,in twelve tries,and second of the year... it was also Detroit's first win in seven games-a much needed win,period... i enjoyed watching the game,because the Red Wings finally played Red Wings' hockey,tonight,and most of the injured stars on the team should be playing altogether by New Year's Day... Jimmy Howard even practiced today in the early team skate,which is a good thing... a much needed two points,period...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 3,Flames 2,overtime...

Red Wings' news...

Calgary Flames/Red Wings,tonight...

commentary...

sorry,folks... i have two different blogs:one for the Green Bay Packers,and one for the Red Wings,and last night's game was so disturbing to me that i accidently put last night's commentary on the wrong blog(that blogpost will stay there)... i love the beautiful game of hockey,but honestly,this season,the Red Wings have lost eight in a row at home,and now have lost six games in a row... well,Red Wings,where is the REAL team pride??? you have played like cow manure,and the team seemed disinterested in simply winning,and some fans even booed at the end of the game at Joe Louis Arena,where you are 5-9-6 for this season,which really is pathetic,period... as for the coaches:take your heads out of your rear ends,and coach like there is no tomorrow,because being in the Eastern Conference is easier than being in the Western Conference,this season,but playing like cow manure does not help,no matter what conference the team you are in,Red Wings... i am a very hardcore fan of the Red Wings,and always be one,but watching Red Wings' hockey,this season,in my opinion,is much worse than in 2010,when they called up basically half of the Grand Rapids Griffiths' roster,to fill in for an injured team,and got beat 3-0 in back to back games to the "hated" Chicago Blackhawks that brutal season,and even i called them,"the Detroit "Griffiths",that season... watching them on television is simply like pulling every tooth out of your mouth:very painful,and,for an example,they were in a shootout recently,and they skated around,and shot the puck in the shootout,like they were already on the team plane,going home... it was very pathetic to even watch the entire team simply mail it in,that night... i am very disappointed,and pissed in the entire team effort,this season,because they appear to think that playing NHL hockey is so easy,and all they have to do is show up,and they will win,and teams that they should pound in the ice(beat)are taking advantage,and beating them,night after night,and doing it easily... what a real pathetic sight!!!!!!!!!!

Red Wings' news...

Anaheim Ducks/Red Wings,tonight...

Red Wings:NEED A WAKE UP CALL...

one question to the Red Wings... what is the offense??? two goals,in last three games,no wins in the shootout(six attempts),this season,and only one win in overtime,all season... make no more excuses... i know that the season is long,but November was really pathetic and the last four games have really sucked... the Red Wings will get better,but right now,they have done nothing offensively consistently for most of this season... Luckily,they are in the top-heavy Eastern Conference,because if they were still in the Western Conference,they would be buried with the also-rans... i will give them a small boost(not much of one),because it is the first year of being in the Eastern Conference for the Red Wings,but they are not playing Red Wings' hockey,and that really sucks,period... WAKE UP,RED WINGS...

Red Wings' game score...

Tampa Bay Lightning 3,Red Wings 0...

Red Wings' news...

Tampa Bay Lightning/Red Wings,tonight...

Red Wings' game score,and comment...

Penguins 4,Red Wings 1... Red Wings lose their third game in a row,and stink again at home doing it......

NHL news,and my opinion...

Boston Bruins' player Shawn Thornton has been suspended fifteen games,without pay,for punching an unsuspecting Brooks Orpik,of the Pittsburgh Penguins,and injuring him,December 7th,2013... my opinion:good thing,Thornton got what he deserved... the beatdown on Orpik was the most brutal thing that i have seen this season... Orpik was stretchered out of the arena,and hospitalized for a few days,and,in my opinion,there is room for fighting in the game of hockey,but what Thornton did to Orpik was quite dirty,PERIOD!!!!!!!!

trivia...

there are two dates in Red Wings' history to note:what Hall of Fame member for the Red Wings scored the Red Wings' first goal on a penalty shot??? answer:on December 13,1934,he scored on Bill Beveridge,of the St. Louis Eagles... Ebbie Goodfellow... the last game at the old Olympia Stadium,was December 15,1979,with the Red Wings and the Quebec Nordiques played to 4-4 tie... bonus trivia:Joe Louis Arena opened up later on in December,1979:on December 27.1979,the Red Wings lost to the St. Louis Blues,3-2,in the very first game at Joe Louis Arena...

Red Wings' schedule...

there are two games this weekend,for the Red Wings,both at home:the Pittsburgh Penguins,Saturday night,and the Tampa Bay Lightning,Sunday...

injury update...

Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard will miss two to four weeks with a grade one medial collateral ligament (MCL)sprain...

Red Wings' game score,and comment...

Lightning 2,Red Wings 1,shootout... another shootout,another loss... that really sucks!!!!!!! that is all i can say...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Lightning,tonight...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings play the Tampa Bay Lightning,tomorrow... the Lightning are a point behind the Red Wings,in the Atlantic Division,and have two games in hand,so tomorrow's game is important...

note...

Tim Thomas was in goal,for the Panthers,tonight...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Panthers 3,Red Wings 2,shootout... odd fact:Red Wings have lost ten straight shootouts,a NHL record... the last time Red Wings won a shootout,was on February 28,2012... San Jose Sharks' fans should remember that game:they lost the game 2-1,at the Shark Tank,in a shootout,to the Red Wings... former Red Wings' player Damien Brunner had the shootout winner,that night... it has been that long since the Red Wings won,via shootout... the first goal,by Jonathan Ericsson was disallowed because Panthers' goaltender did a flop that would make any pole vaulter very proud,to draw an interference,on Danny Cleary... however,the Red Wings played a very bad third period,even though they were up,2-0,after two periods,on the Panthers... Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard had an outstanding game through sixty five minutes,but the Red Wings could not buy a break,in the shootout... note:they are 2 for 16 in shootouts,this season...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Florida Panthers,tonight... second game of a home and home series... Red Wings lost 2-1,in an ugly game that the Red Wings played at home,last time... in other news,Pavel Datsyuk will play tonight,after missing seven games with a concussion,in which the Red Wings were 5-2 in those games... finally,Tampa Bay general manager,and former Red Wings' captain,and Hall of Fame member Steve Yzerman will play in the Alumni Showdown,the day before the Bridgestone Winter Classic,between the Red Wings,and Toronto Maple Leafs,at the "Big House",a 100,000+ seat stadium at East Lansing,Michigan,New Year's Day,2014... the Alumni Showdown will be at Comerica Park,in Detroit,New Year's Eve... it will be part of Hockeytown Winter Festival,including an Ontario Hockey League game,an American Hockey League game,featuring the defending Calder Cup Champions Grand Rapids Griffiths,a NCAA game,and two Alumni games between the Red Wings,and Maple Leafs Alumni...

Atlantic Division news...

Red Wings,right now,are in third place in the Atlantic Division... they are one point ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning,and two points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs... the Lightning have two games in hand over the Red Wings,and at least a game in hand over every team in the Atlantic Division...

blog statement....

day off... be back tomorrow...

Red Wings' game score,and comments...

Panthers 2,Red Wings 1...a very ugly game for Red Wings... Red Wings are 5-6-6 at home... no support for Jonas Gustavsson,as Red Wings played a terrible game,period... they play in Florida,Tuesday,in the second game of home and home series...

commentary...

last night's game against the Devils was a masterful defensive effort by the Red Wings... they allowed only eleven shots on goal the least number of shots allowed in a game,since 2000... Red Wings have won five of their last six games... Joakim Andersson,Johan Franzen,and Tomas Tatar all scored for the Red Wings... the only drawback for the Red Wings is that they have allowed four power play goals in last two games(Andy Greene scored in the first period,for the Devils,on a power play)... they need to tighten up their defense,stop taking penalties,and play Red Wings' hockey...

Red Wings' news...

Florida Panthers/Red Wings,tonight...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 3,Devils 1... commentary later...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/New Jersey Devils,tonight...

commentary...

i love the simply beautiful game of hockey... people talk about the game as a business,and it is,and that part of the game i really despise,because millionaires fighting millionaires over the revenue pie that is the NHL really sucks rock... however,the skating of players on the ice is quite beautiful,and the pundits simply forget that it is a kid's game played to its highest level... they complain about teams that are really bad,and hype,glorify other teams that are champions,and forget that it is just a kid's game... what is the difference between a game of kids playing hockey,and Pavel Datsyuk,Alex Ovechkin,and/or Sidney Crosby playing the game??? answer:absolutely nothing... in fact,sometimes watching kids play is absolutely more fun... that is the reason that i love the simply beautiful game of hockey...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Flyers 6,Red Wings 3... finally,injuries to Henrik Zetterberg(herinated disc),and Pavel Datsyuk(concussion),for,at least,this game have caught up to the Red Wings... the first half of this game was a masterful defensive effort by the Red Wings,being up 3-1,and having the Flyers back on their heels,and waiting for the knockout punch... it never came,and the Flyers capitalized on all three of their power plays,scoring all three times,as the Flyers out-played the Red Wings quite badly,in the last thirty minutes of the game... Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard still continues to mystify me,with his lackluster play in goal(giving up five of the six goals scored-an empty net goal does not count against him),but he has not played up to his usual very good self,most of the year,and not having Datsyuk and Zetterberg in the lineup does not help the team,but no excuses!!!!!!! the Red Wings played badly and simply got beat,period...

injury update...

Pavel Datsyuk and Danny DeKeyser skated today but did not play tonight,against the Philadelphia Flyers... Datsyuk had no symptoms from his concussion,and needs to get back in shape,and DeKeyser has a separated shoulder,but is not expected to play until after Christmas...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Philadelphia Flyers,tonight...

Red Wings' injury...

when it rains,it pours... Red Wings' captain Henrik Zetterberg is out a minimum of two weeks,with a herniated disc... Red Wings play tomorrow,against the Philadelphia Flyers...

blog statement...

this a day off,like i said earlier... folks,i needed it quite badly...

Red Wings' game score,and comments...

Red Wings 4,Senators 2... Drew Miller scored two goals,as former Senators' captain(1995-2013)Daniel Alfordsson had a two point night(an assist,and an empty net goal to ice the game)... Alfordsson has now scored against all thirty teams in the NHL...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Ottawa Senators.tonight...

blog statement...

i am taking the day off... i am still very sore from a nasty fall that i took on Thanksgiving... it will be memorable for the family for years... just too bad i will have to hear about it for years(laughing)...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 5,Islanders 0... Darren Helm,and Daniel Alfordsson both scored twice,along with Gustav Nyquist,as the Red Wings broke a five game,ten year losing streak,against the Islanders... Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard notched his 18th career shutout,as the Red Wings have won four of the last five games that they have played,and the Red Wings have out-scored the Buffalo Sabres,the Boston Bruins,and the Islanders,14-2,in the last three games...

note...

knowing that they played only five times in ten years,the last time the Red Wings beat today's opponent,the New York Islanders,was on Black Friday,2003... Red Wings have lost five straight games,to the Islanders...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/New York Islanders,today... matinee game...

blog statement...

i need a couple days off... i am taking them...

Happy Thanksgiving Day...

Red Wings' game score,and comment...

Red Wings 6,Bruins 1... six different Red Wings scored,in a game that the Red Wings dominated,before the Bruins scored in the last three minutes...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Boston Bruins,tonight...

historic broadcasting agreement in Canada...

NHL and Rogers Communications announced a 12 year,$5.232 Billion agreement for Canadian broadcast rights... Canadian Broadcasting Corporation(CBC) will keep the Hockey Night In Canada franchise(61 years of broadcasting it,and counting)... the French broadcasting corporation TVA will get all French broadcasts,and multimedia rights,from fellow French broadcasting corporation RDS...

Red Wings' news...

accordingly to the Detroit News,and Red Wings.com,Pavel Datsyuk got hit in the jaw by an elbow,against Ottawa and felt "fuzzy",so he did not play against Buffalo(in fact,he did not even make the trip)... Red Wings are being cautious,and listing Datsyuk,as "day to day",with a possible concussion... he will go through the concussion protocol... Red Wings do not play again,until Wednesday,against the Boston Bruins,in Detroit...

commentary...

in the game against the Sabres,today,it was tight,and yet physical,like most of the Red Wings' games lately... after the Sabres(Cody Hodgson)scored early to go up 1-0,the Red Wings(Darren Helm)scored in the first minute of the second period,and both teams played tentatively the rest of the game,with Johan Franzen scoring the game winner,when the puck went off Sabres' goaltender Ryan Miller's pads,popped into the air,and deflected into the net off a Sabres' player's thigh... Daniel Alfordsson then put the puck into the net for an empty net goal,in the last minute,to put the Sabres away... Johan Franzen and Daniel Alfordsson both had two point nights(a goal and assist each)...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 3,Sabres 1... commentary later...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Buffalo Sabres,today... matinee game...

Red Wings' game score,and comments...

Senators 4,Red Wings 2... with seventeen penalties(nine for Ottawa),including a slashing penalty on goaltender Jimmy Howard,and a fight,between the teams,it was a rather nasty "street fight",on ice... a rather ugly game,period... in last ten home games,Red Wings are 1-3-6(a very ugly stat line)... a rather forgettable game,unless you like a street fight....

Red Wings' news...

Ottawa Senators/Red Wings,tonight...

blog statement...

taking a day off... wonder what nonsense is on the "boob tube"(laughing)...

Red Wings' game score,and comments...

Red Wings 4,Hurricanes 3... Gustav Nyquist scored twice,the first with seventeen seconds gone in the first period,as the Red Wings dominated third period,and Nyquist also scored game-winner in the third period... Nyquist,who got recalled from Grand Rapids earlier in the day,had his best game in the young career... Andrej Sekera also scored two goals for the Hurricanes,as he scored in last twenty seconds,but it was too little,too late,for the Hurricanes...

comments...

Red Wings may lose tonight(they are tied,at 2,after two periods),but they just killed off a two man advantage,for the Hurricanes,to end the second period,thanks to an amazing Pavel Datsyuk... they are now playing "Red Wings" hockey for the first time in nineteen days... hope they can finish the Hurricanes off,and make the fans finally smile...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl update...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl is basically a .500 team... they are 14-14,after 28 games... the Russian standings are odd to figure:with regular wins,shootout wins,overtime wins,shootout losses,overtime losses,and regular losses put at the very end of their team line... (it is the way that they put the standings,odd,isn't it)... they have scored 52 goals and have allowed 51 goals,and are in fifth place in the Western Conference,of the Kontinental Hockey League...

Griffiths' update...

the Grand Rapids Griffiths of the American Hockey League are 11-4-1-1,so far... the defending Calder Cup champions are the affiliate of the Red Wings...

Red Wings' news...

Carolina Hurricanes/Red Wings,tonight...

comment...

i am truly pissed off,simply because of the putrid effort that the Red Wings displayed,last night... get your head out of your rear ends,Red Wings,and just play hockey!!!!!!!!!

Red Wings' game score...

Predators 2,Red Wings 0... longest home losing streak,since 1986...

a total lack of effort...

i am sorry,folks... i was supposed to take day off,but watching the Red Wings over the first two periods makes my blood just boil,because they seem to not care about the game against Nashville,and they also seem to be disinterested in playing the game... i know that there is one period left,but they were not prepared to play,tonight,and i totally blame the top players,and the coaching staff for their total failure,and lack of preparation in this game... they have not won a game in seventeen days,and they have a non-winning streak of seven games,at home(the longest streak of that length,since 1989,in the Dead Wings era)... they are playing like they are a big pile of manure,and the entire team is playing with no edge,anger,or desperation,and that really stinks,period... not enough fire in their collective bellies,and they seem not to care a whit about playing hockey,right now... "the Joe" is booing,half empty,and appear disinterested... i am a hardcore fan of the Red Wings,and yet,i am very pissed off,and i am pissed off,because of the seeming lack of total team effort,period!!!!!!! IT IS TIME TO GET PISSED OFF,RED WINGS!!!!!!!

Red Wings' news,and comment...

Nashville Predators/Red Wings,tonight... will note final score,tonight,but will type commentary,tomorrow morning...

commentary...

this weekend has been very strange for me... i started this weekend a little depressed because of the tough times that the teams that i root for are going through,but honestly,i ended this weekend with a smile,because i remember all the good times of my life... tough times do pass,but tough people endure,and i truly know,and have known my share of them,no doubt... i remember what hockey is:a simple and beautiful game of a kid shooting a puck into an empty net,and skating on a clear sheet of ice,day after day,preparing for the game every day,growing up,and then rising to heights in junior hockey,minor league hockey,and the various pro leagues around the world,and yet,it started a long time ago,with a kid shooting a puck,and just skating a clear sheet of ice... that is real true hockey...

commentary...

Pavel Datsyuk scored twice in a wild regulation,of a game,including game tying goal,with just under 43 seconds left,in regulation,but Red Wings lose in a shootout... note of fact:in this strange weird stretch of Red Wings' games:Johan Franzen,Red Wings' captain Henrik Zetterberg,and Pavel Datsyuk twice have scored two goals in a game,but the Red Wings have lost games in stranger ways than i can count...

good news,bad news...

the Red Wings have points in ten of last thirteen games... that is good news... now,for the bad news... the Red Wings have not won a game outright,since November 2nd,2013,when they beat the Edmonton Oilers,5-0... they lost six games in a row... the last five games in overtime,or shootout,including the last three games,in a shootout... do you think i am,as a fan,frustrated???

Red Wings' game score...

Islanders 5,Red Wings 4,shootout... commentary,later...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/New York Islanders,tonight....

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Capitals 4,Red Wings 3,shootout... in a wild frustrating game,Johan Franzen scored two goals,but two weird bounces led to two late third period goals,by the Capitals(one by Alex Ovechkin),which led to a crazy penalty-filled overtime,and then to another shootout loss... in the last seven home games,the Red Wings have only one regulation loss,but have six overtime,and/or shootout losses... Red Wings did lead,3-1,after two periods... what a weird stretch of games!!!!!!!!!!!!

Red Wings' news...

Washington Capitals/Red Wings,tonight... Red Wings have lost four straight games;three of them in overtime,or shootout... they are 0-2-4,at home,in last six home games... does misery at home continue,tonight???

Red Wings' schedule...

Washington Capitals/Red Wings,tomorrow... Red Wings/Islanders,Saturday...

comment...

to tell you how cold the Red Wings are,in the last ten games,they are 3-2-5,with the last three games decided in overtime,or a shootout,all losses...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary

Jets 3,Red Wings 2,shootout... Red Wings out-shoot Jets 43-21,and was 2 for 4 on power play... Pavel Datsyuk scored twice for Red Wings... that was the good news,now the bad news:Andrew Ladd,who beat the San Jose Sharks,5-4,in a shootout with game winning goal,did the same to the Red Wings,tonight... Red Wings are 0-2-4,in last six games... misery continues... ugh!!!!!!!!!

Red Wings' news,and comment...

Winnipeg Jets/Red Wings,tonight... can finally Red Wings win a game at home,or is the misery going on???

Happy Veteran's Day...

correction...

OOPS!!!!! the Red Wings are 0-2-3 in last five home games,not overall... however,i will say that both the Sharks and Red Wings have hit a cold spot in their schedule,and i honestly believe that both teams should be in the Stanley Cup Playoffs,in April- June... they end in June,2014...

trivia...

i know the Red Wings are 0-2-3 in last five games,but what team is 0-1-4,in last five games??? answer:San Jose Sharks...

blog statement...

right now,i am watching football,but i may blog on here later...

correction,and comment...

i corrected the slight mistake in mentioning that the Lightning went on defense,and killed a four minute double minor penalty against the Red Wings... however,i forgot the words "power play" during the description... after posting the blog post,i noticed the mistake,and corrected it... let me say that it has been a very strange week,and i am just shaking my head...

commentary...

the Red Wings are actually not playing that bad,but they can not seem to get a break... for example,they go on a four minute(double minor)power play(:36 of that,a two man advantage),then four seconds after the Lightning killed that penalty off,they score a goal on a broken play... Red Wings' captain Henrik Zetterberg scored both goals,for Detroit,then they went into overtime,and lost... at home,they have lost five games,three of them,in overtime and/or shootout,in a row... it is the longest non-winning streak at home since 1996-1997,when they went 0-2-2-1*(*a different way that was used to show NHL standings back then)... they are simply stone cold and snakebit....

Red Wings' game score...

Lightning 3,Red Wings 2,overtime... commentary later...

Red Wings' news...

Tampa Bay Lightning/Red Wings,tonight...

blog statement...

i am just taking the day from blogging today... turning things mentally off today... couch potato day...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Stars 4,Red Wings 3,overtime... a heartbreaking loss,with 0:18 seconds left in overtime,with Rich Peverly scoring a rocket past goaltender Jimmy Howard... a late power play goal in the last minute tied game for the Stars... Pavel Datsyuk scored a highlight goal off a beautiful deke,to give the Red Wings a short lived 3-2 lead in the third period... Stars never led game until overtime winning goal... good news is that the Red Wings got a point in an inter-conference game... bad news is that they should have gotten two points... home cooking should help:they will play seven of the next eight games,and eight of the next eleven games at home to close out the month of November... however,they are 0-2-2 in the last four games at home,and have lost two straight games,overall...

Red Wings' news...

Dallas Stars/Red Wings,tonight...

commentary...

the morons of the NHL scheduling department has made the NHL regular schedule into a stupid chaotic mess... having the Anaheim Ducks,and New York Rangers on an eight game,and nine game road trips,respectively,and having the Red Wings play only four times,since October 26th(they play tomorrow,against Dallas) makes the NHL look like something out of the Keystone Kops... they also have an over two week break because of the 2014 Sochi Olympics already in the schedule,so this schedule makes no sense... what a league!!!!!!!!

blog statement...

after a tough stinking night,i am taking day off... too nice a day to waste...

Red Wings' game score,and comment...

Winnipeg Jets 4,Red Wings 2... six of a possible eight points on a Western Canadian road trip is good(three wins of four games),but a bad game overall...

comment...

folks,do you believe that i am tired of all the weird and stupid stuff that is reported on??? yes,i am!!!!!!!!

shame on you,NHL...

Philadephia Flyers' goaltender Ray Emery is a goon,for beating up Washington Capitals' goaltender Braden Holtby during a line brawl,in the Capitals' 7-0 stomping,of the Flyers,Friday night... Emery made a mad dash toward Holtby(200 feet),and beat him up and referee Francis St. Laurent would not let anybody break the fight,and St. Laurent is totally incompetent,as a NHL referee... he is infamous,in calling moronic penalties... ask Mike Richards who elbowed Patrick Kaleta during a game,in 2011,after Kaleta made a run at Richards??? guess what? Richards got a five minute major for elbowing,which,by all accounts,was done in self defense... to top it off,NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman basically said there is no rule to punish Emery... hey,Gary,how about rule 48???,and many others... you and your department of player safety is not worth the spit on the ice or wall,if you do not suspend Emery,but,alas,you,or your department of player safety do not have the "grapefruits",to use a term from the WWE,or spine,to suspend Emery for a blatant violation of,at least,Rule 48,and as for St. Laurent,he is one of the worst referees,in the NHL,period...

blog statement...

i injured my index finger this morning-soft tissue injury to the underbelly of the finger near the main knuckle,and some bruising... will try to blog on everything,tonight...

Red Wings' news,and comment...

Red Wings 5,Oilers 0... of the last forty four games between the teams,Red Wings have only two regulation losses... commentary,tomorrow morning...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Edmonton Oilers,tonight...

commentary...

the game against the Flames was a typical Red Wings' win,and game from this up and down season... the Red Wings got off to a 2-0 lead,after Pavel Datsyuk,and Henrik Zetterberg scored,the Red Wings dominated the period,looked like a team that could be very good,and then the sloppy Red Wings returned,for a period,and they played ole' defense on the Flames,as Chris Butler,and Sean Monahan scored 2:32 apart,to tie game at two... the second goal by Monahan was an example of the lax defensive effort that,at times,Detroit has had this season... Monahan just skated through the Red Wings' defense like melted butter,and shot puck past Jimmy Howard... after getting their rear ends chewed by head coach Mike Babcock,they tightened their team defense up,as Joakim Andersson scored early in the period,and the Red Wings played stellar team defense,forcing the Flames to the outside of their offensive zone,as minutes ticked off the game,then Justin Abdelkader scored the game-winner just as the clock passed the four minute mark,at 16:36,and as the clock ticked off the time,Curtis Glencross scored a goal,at 19:50,that absolutely looked like a lost puck that crawled over the goal line... it was a tap-in,but the puck found the goal with its last roll,as the Flames and Red Wings had a scrum in front of the net... what a fitting end to a strange game...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 4,Flames 3... commentary,tomorrow morning...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Calgary Flames,tonight...

commentary...

the Red Wings' offense has been struggling,but last night's game was a textbook defensive effort,and the Red Wings made one more shot than the Canucks,along with one more save by Jimmy Howard,who stopped nineteen shots,and for the Red Wings to limit the potent Canucks to twenty shots was a clinic in team defense... it was the second best defensive game for the Red Wings of the early,next to the Sharks' game which was 0-0,after sixty five minutes... i have to say the Red Wings left me wondering what team will show up game after game... that will change,but right now the Red Wings are struggling on offense,and have been inconsistent period... someone told me that the cream will rise to the top,and that is true,but the Red Wings have played very good,and then very bad,in a group of games that i have a very hard time figuring them out,so far,period... even though,the Red Wings had lost four straight games,the effort that they put up against the Canucks was very very special,and i guess reminded them of who they were- a very talented team,but this game could be a spark in giving the Red Wings some momentum into the rest of the season...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 2,Canucks 1...

note...

the Red Wings' game is at 7:30 pm,so after the game,there will no commentary,but the game score will be up online,and commentary will be up early tomorrow morning...

Red Wings' news...

finally:Red Wings/Vancouver Canucks,tonight...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Vancouver Canucks,tomorrow... start of a four game Western Canadian road trip...

comments...

it has been a very strange day,so far,today... i feel just fine... nothing wrong with health,but things are just off kilter with me... i guess the fact that the Red Wings only plays twice this week(Wednesday and Friday) just irritates me a bit,because the bad taste from last week(0-1-2,and a four game losing streak) is lingering just a little longer than i want,and that really sucks...

blog statement...

taking it easy today,period... nice day-too nice to do much on blog today...

Red Wings' game score,and comments...

Rangers 3,Red Wings 2,overtime... ugly win with 12.9 seconds left in overtime,for the road weary Rangers... Red Wings played better,got a much needed point,but lost their fourth straight game... Head Coach Mike Babcock is desperately looking for secondary scoring(third and fourth line),and the Red Wings have gone cold offensively,and yet got a much needed point in the standings... that is the good news... the bad news is that the Red Wings third and fourth lines are not scoring,and Jimmy Howard looks absolutely rusty from a hand injury,earlier this season,period...

Red Wings' news...

Rangers/Red Wings,tonight... for the Rangers,the last game of a brutal nine game road trip,to start the 2013-2014 NHL season... for the Red Wings,redemption....

Red Wings' news...

New York Rangers/Red Wings,tomorrow... a team who have given up nineteen more goals than they have scored,for the season,and is 2-6,so far,this season versus a team who have been out-scored 12-3,over the last three games,and played their worst game,in,at least,two years the last time out on the ice... what a game!!!!!!! oh,my!!!!!!!

commentary....

i was so disgusted with last night's Red Wings' game that i was debating whether to give you details of the game,or going into the bathroom and putting my fingers down my throat,and vomiting.... i did neither,but vomiting would have helped(laughing)... the Red Wings absolutely stunk so bad last night that the way the Senators played was absolutely overlooked,because the Senators kicked,and stomped the Red Wings' rear end,from puck drop to final buzzer... no one deserved mention,of any great detail on the Red Wings' part,because this game's effort will be the worst of the 2013-2014 NHL season,period... this game will have an awful stench for a long time,because the Red Wings just showed up,got steamrolled,and the fans just sat there stunned,and in disbelief... there are games that you lose,6-1,and effort is there,and the other team just was awesome,and the other goaltender was a stonewall,and you lose badly,but last night the Red Wings' effort was so miserable that the whole Red Wings' organization,and fans should be absolutely embarrassed,period... vomiting would have helped(laughing)...

Red Wings' game score...

Ottawa 6,Detroit 1... the only good thing for the Red Wings tonight is that Niklas Kronwall played,in a stomping...

comment...

i must be a hardcore Red Wings' fan,as i am still watching the Red Wings,as it is now 6-1,Ottawa.... WOOF WOOF,Red Wings!!!!!

commentary...

what is the difference between dogfood,and the Red Wings' effort tonight??? answer:nothing... after two periods,they are down 4-1,to Ottawa... goaltender Jimmy Howard got yanked after just around the fifteen minute mark in first period,after being a matador for three goals... will give score only,after this dogfood,in Detroit,tonight... the fans should boo and almost ask for their money back,for this game... what a piece of work,Red Wings!!!!!!!!!

Red Wings' news...

Ottawa Senators/Red Wings,tonight...

blog statement...

taking day off... nothing of significance on NHL.com to talk about... too nice a day to waste... possibly,i will blog late tonight...

Red Wings' game score,and comments...

San Jose Sharks 1,Red Wings 0,shootout... Red Wings got a point,but Logan Couture got the shootout goal... series note:in eighty three meetings between the teams,this game is the only game that ended in a 1-0 score;there has never been a 0-0 tie,either...

NHL news...

Colorado Avalanche's Cody McLeod has been suspended five games for his hit,against Niklas Kronwall,of the Red Wings,during their game,last Thursday(a 4-2 Red Wings' win)...

blog statement,and comment...

am taking day off for this blog... i am watching football,and i am fine,but i am very tired... for your information,Red Wings play the San Jose Sharks,tomorrow,in Motown... i really hope the Red Wings start on time,and come ready to play,tomorrow...

Red Wings' game score and commentary...

Phoenix Coyotes 5,Red Wings 2... i have to give the Coyotes credit... they played sixty minutes of hockey,and the Red Wings played about fifty two minutes... what a very ugly effort for the tired-looking Red Wings!!!!! they played like dogmeat the last two periods,offensively,and the Coyotes rolled over them in last two periods... to top off the Red Wings' bad night,Coyotes' goaltender Mike Smith scored an empty net goal,with 0.1 second left,in the third period... a really legitimate goal-he shot the goal from his own goal crease,lofted it,and the puck slid into the Red Wings' net... Coyotes always seem to bring their best game against Detroit;they did tonight... Coyotes swept both games against Detroit(4-2,and 5-2),this season...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Phoenix Coyotes,tonight...

commentary...

Colorado Avalanche announcer Mike Haynes said while Niklas Kronwall was down motionless on ice,that he got some of his own medicine,referring to Kronwall's big hits,also known as "Kronwalling"... the simple fact is that most of Kronwall's hits are not near the boards,and they are legal,and another fact that he has never been suspended,period,as i type this... Cody McLeod is a repeat offender,under the NHL system of discipline... Mr. Haynes is a real piece of work,and is lower than pond scum... the only other game between the teams will be the night that the Red Wings retire Nicklas Lidstrom's sweater,and number... the good news is that Kronwall has a mild concussion,and is listed as day to day,which honestly may help in his in-person hearing with Brendan Shanahan,but the fact that he is a repeat offender will not help him... as for Haynes,he is a whiner,period...

NHL news...

if you have seen the boarding hit on Red Wings' defenseman Niklas Kronwall by the Avalanche's Cody McLeod,it is not good... motionless for minutes,and stretchered off ice,Kronwall suffered a concussion,and cuts behind his ears... McLeod was ejected for the hit,and received an in-person heading from the NHL Department of Player Safety,which usually means a suspension of more than five games... i hope Kronwall will miss as few games as possible...

commentary...

it is way too early to get excited about where the Red Wings are in the Atlantic Division standings(first place at this time),but i am happy about the start of the 2013-14 NHL season for the Red Wings... too many things can happen with just over 90% of the season remaining... i will say that i expect the Red Wings to be in the Stanley Cup playoffs,and that is all that i will wish for at this time... However,folks,i am smiling...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 4,Avalanche 2... a two goal night,by both Johan Franzen,and Pavel Datsyuk iced game for the Red Wings,as the Colorado Avalanche had a really bad third period,giving up two goals,after tying the game at two,in the second period... in the third period,Red Wings skated circles around,and dominated the Avalanche,in the period,as Colorado could not get puck past goaltender Jonas Gustavsson,or a very strong Red Wings' team defense,in the third period... Red Wings have won four straight games...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Avalanche,tonight... two teams off to great starts,this season... is there still bad blood between the teams,or a long memory??? with Hall of Fame member Patrick Roy,as Avalanche head coach,bet on it!!!!!! my opinion:i would love to see Red Wings give Avalanche their first loss...

is the NHL insane...

who in the NHL front office and scheduling department gave the New York Rangers an insane nine game road trip to start the 2013-2014 NHL season,in which the Rangers have stumbled out of the starting gate,with a 1-4-0 record,and they play the Washington Capitals,tonight... some NHL teams in the past used to be forced out of their own arena,because of the Barnum and Bailey's Circus,or an ice skating show,but come on,NHL,having a marquee team like the Rangers to start their home schedule until October 28th,2013,is totally insane... having two home games in October is stupid(Halloween night is the other home game),and then having seven of nine games at home,from November 2nd,to November 19th,2013 is simply unbelievable... you can tell that i am irritable,because i hate stupid things no end,and whomever gave the Rangers that schedule is a brick or two short of a full load...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 2,Blue Jackets 1... commentary,tomorrow morning...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings' Darren Helm has been sent to Grand Rapids for conditioning,and can play three games in six days,with the Griffiths... Helm has missed all but one game,since 2012,because of various injuries,including a back injury...

Red Wings' news...

Columbus Blue Jackets play Red Wings,today... fourth game in last six days...

commentary...

the game against the Bruins was almost too easy... the Red Wings seemed to step faster to the puck,and they played great team defense,blocking shot after shot,and even though the Red Wings did not have a power play all day,they killed off a critical two man advantage for the Bruins midway through the third period,that gave the Red Wings the motivation to fend off a late charge,and goal by the Bruins,and win the game,3-2... Boston played their second game in two days,and third game in five days,as did the Red Wings,but the motivation of the 4-1 loss that the Red Wings suffered in Boston,last week,gave the Red Wings just enough jump in their game to win a close game,with last year's Eastern Conference Champions... a very good road win...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 3,Bruins 2... commentary,later tonight...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings play the Boston Bruins tomorrow,for the second time,in Boston,so it will be interesting,because the first time the Bruins beat the Red Wings 4-1,last week...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 5,Flyers 2... going into the game against Philadelphia,the Red Wings were scoreless on the power play,and the last NHL team to score a power play goal,but tonight they made up for that small fact-they scored three power play goals(Todd Bertuzzi,Niklas Kronwall,and Pavel Datsyuk)... Datsyuk's goal-a beautiful backhand through the pads of Flyers' goaltender Ray Emery-was the game winning goal... the last two goals were scored by Red Wings' captain Henrik Zetterberg-the first one on a beautiful pass from Datsyuk,and the second one was an empty net goal,with another assist,from Datsyuk,who was among four different players who had three points for the night... Red Wings had leads of 2-0,3-1,and 4-2 throughout the game(before the empty net goal by Zetterberg),as Philadelphia struggled scoring goals,and Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard was stellar through most of the game,and made some clutch stops that were key to the Red Wings' win,in the third period...

comment...

i am watching the Red Wings,and the Philadelphia Flyers,in Detroit,right now... so hang on for a review,folks...

blog statement...

after five days of vacation,it will take me a few days to get up to speed,sorry,folks...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings activate backup goaltender Jonas Gustavsson off injured reserve...

Red Wings' game score,and comment...

Phoenix Coyotes 4,Red Wings 2... a ugly game for Red Wings... an empty net goal for Coyotes iced game...

blog statement...

sorry folks,had fun,and back home... Red Wings play today...

Red Wings' game score,and comments...

Red Wings 3,Hurricanes 2,overtime... Henrik Zetterberg tied game with 16.4 seconds left in regulation,as Red Wings overcame a 2-0 deficit,after two periods,and then Stephen Weiss tipped puck past Cam Ward to complete comeback... Justin Abdelkader halved lead,at 2-1 within first minute of third period,and Detroit kept on coming,throughout the third period... Radek Dvorak scored on Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard,with a chip shot over his head,after a beautiful stretch pass,in first period,and then Nathan Gerbe scored through Howard's legs,after the puck was deflected off two Red Wings(a crazy goal),in the second period... what a game!!!!!

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Carolina Hurricanes,tonight... Red Wings/Boston Bruins,tomorrow...

a day of Keystone Kops...

it has been a very strange day for me... have lost things,and then found things in a way that the Keystone Kops would be proud... after having lunch with Diana,and getting skunked at cribbage,she went to the cleaners,and left something important(a check)with them,took me over to the bank,(she then realized that she left a check at the cleaners),where as i got out of the car,i did not know that my handicapped placard had fallen out of my lap,so i went into the bank,did my business,and left back to the cleaners,got the check,and then i realized i had dropped the placard out of the car at the bank(in the parking lot),so we rushed over to the bank(she did her business),found the placard(it was in a pile of leaves and dirt,near the curb,and near the bus stop;it had blown over to a spot that no one noticed;thank God),and then over to the store,and a clerk gave her groceries to someone else,so she got her stuff,and finally left the store... we were both saying and laughing,"what else could go wrong???",as i got home... what an afternoon of fun!!!!!

Red Wings' game,and comments...

Red Wings 2,Sabres 1... Red Wings score twice in 36 seconds,in the first period,and dominated much of the game... Mikael Samuelsson,and Pavel Datsyuk scored the two goals,as both goaltenders(Ryan Miller,and Jimmy Howard)had very good games,but the Sabres could not put many pucks past Howard,at critical times,as Red Wings killed two two-man(5 on 3)advantages,for the Sabres during the game......

yesterday's Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 3,Vityaz Chekhov 2... a late goal by Lokomotiv won game...

trivia...

tonight's game against the Buffalo Sabres is the first game for the Red Wings in the Eastern Conference,since when the conference was named the Prince of Wales Conference,and the Red Wings went 19-43-18(a 80 game season),in the 1980-1981 NHL season...

Red Wings' news...

Buffalo Sabres/Red Wings... opening night,of Red Wings' season... big YAY!!!!!!!!!

injury report...

prayers and good wishes for Montreal Canadiens' George Parros,who slipped on ice,while fighting Colton Orr,of the Toronto Maple Leafs... he went face/chin first onto the ice,and had to stretchered off the ice... it was their second fight of the night... possible concussion,because he threw punch,Orr slipped on ice,and Parros went down over Orr's back,like a redwood onto his face/chin...

comment...

NHL season starts today... YAY!!!!!!!

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings send Gustav Nyquist,goaltender Petr Mrazek to Grand Rapids(American Hockey League),and put Darren Helm on long term injured reserve,which means he will miss the start of the 2013-2014 NHL season,at least...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Ak Bars Kazan 2,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 0... Lokomotiv Jaroslavl got shut out again... Ak Bars Kazan scored two goals,in twenty eight seconds,in a tight hard fought game early in third period... the offense of Lokomotiv has been non-existent for the last two games,being shut out in both games...

blog statement...

with the NHL season starting on Tuesday,i am taking a break today from this blog... mentally tired;need to prime myself up for the season...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 5,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 0... Lokomotiv Jaroslavl got crushed...

Florida Panthers have new owner...

the NHL Board of Governors approved the sale of the Florida Panthers,to New York businessman Vincent Viola...

Red Wings' news...

for true hockey fans,the last two Red Wings' preseason games are against the Toronto Maple Leafs:September 27th,in Detroit,and September 28th,in Toronto... the Red Wings open the regular season,against the Buffalo Sabres,on October 2nd,2013,at Joe Louis Arena,in Detroit... the San Jose Sharks play the Red Wings only twice:once in Detroit,October 21st,2013,and in San Jose,January 9th,2014... note to true fans:because of NHL realignment,every team will play at least one game,in every arena,this season.... it is to showcase the new schedule... it is not always that way...

blog statement...

taking day off... too much to do,and mentally need a break... NHL is priming for the season,and after a long offseason,i need a nap from the offseason boredom(laughing)...

commentary...

this offseason has been longer than normal for me,because with the 113 day NHL lockout,it took away thirty four games off the regular season... normally by the 48 game mark of a season,i am getting primed for a run into the playoffs,but last year,i was not ready mentally for the end of the short season... i actually have watched some Red Wings' preseason hockey,against the Blackhawks,and Penguins(Chicago,and Pittsburgh,respectively),to try to soothe my itch for hockey,but it is not enough,because it is not regular season hockey... folks,only a week to go... thank you,Gary Bettman,for being Bettman!!!!!!!! i do not mean it as a compliment...

commentary...

pundits are saying that the Red Wings are primed for a long playoff run this upcoming NHL season... however, i am cautious in saying the talent on the Red Wings are much better than last season,but the shift to the Eastern Conference makes me just wonder how the Red Wings will respond to the conference,and the teams in the conference... the Red Wings should make the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 23rd consecutive season on talent alone,but the NHL always has a surprise every year...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 4,Dinamo Minsk 1... finally,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl win two games in a row,by dismantling Dinamo Minsk...

note...

i want the 2013-2014 NHL season to start... nine days to go... i can not wait...

commentary...

simply said,i wish that the 2013-2014 NHL season would start... i just feel that last season was just too short,and i am going through some boredom,and i really can not wait for October 1st,the start of the 2013-2014 NHL season,because i just got a taste of NHL hockey with a 48 game season,last season,which really sucked,folks... it ended too soon for my taste... bring on the season,and i will be happy...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl news...

Tom Rowe has been relieved of his coaching duties for Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,their coach since the the team's plane crash,on 7 Septembre 2011... Pyotr(russian for Peter)Vorobyov,a former assistant coach,within the organization,replaced him...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 3,Medvescak Zagreb 2,shootout win... finally,the puck bounces the right way,for Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,as they win a hard fought game,with a shootout...

NHL news...

Edmonton Oilers signed Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to a seven year $42 million contract extension,today...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Spartak Moscow 2,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 1,shootout...

commentary...

i can not wait until October 1st,when the 2013-2014 NHL season starts,because for the first time in eighteen months there will be a 82 game season,and i love the beautiful game of hockey,and that is most important that the season starts,not for 48 games,but 82 games,because the marathon that goes from October to mid-June begins,and eighty two games shows you how special the NHL is,because things happen that are odd and weird,and for example,that in 2010,the last spot in Eastern Conference actually came down to game eighty two,and a shootout between the New York Rangers,and Philadelphia Flyers... the Flyers won the shootout,and won the last spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs,and that was nail-biting time... that is classic NHL hockey...

yesterday's Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Donbass Donetsk 4,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 3,overtime... Lokomotiv scored two late goals to force overtime,but lose 3:49,into overtime... a good point to get,but to lose four of five games,to start season(1-3-1)is not good...

2013-2014 Chicago Blackhawks...

now for the defending Stanley Cup Chicago Blackhawks:they are the best team going into the 2013-2014 season,on paper,with Jonathan Toews,Patrick Kane,Patrick Sharp and a high-powered offense,and Duncan Keith,who won the Norris Trophy,in 2009-2010,is turning into a defensive bulkwart,and a star,period,along with Brent Seabrook,who ended the Red Wings' season,in the 2013 NHL season(note:the NHL counts the season,as the 2012-2013 season,but i do not,because there were no games in the last part in 2012)... back to the analysis:Seabrook ended the Red Wings' season with an overtime goal,in game seven of their epic,hard-fought series,in the Stanley Cup playoffs... what a jerk!!!(joking of course-deeply respect Seabrook for his talent),but i wanted the Red Wings to beat the Blackhawks,in that series,but honestly,the best team won... in goal,they have a goaltender,in Corey Crawford,who may be underrated,honestly,in the NHL,and that is a robbery,because he is very,very quick with his glove,solid,and so talented that the pundits look at the front line offense,the blue line defense,and forget that they have a very good goaltender,who may have one minor flaw,in his routine,and that is that he drops the puck,when catching it,and then falls on it with his big body,but when you win a Stanley Cup,and your team wins two Stanley Cup in four years,you can nitpick the team all you want,and find very little to complain around,period...

2013-2014 Minnesota Wild...

when Ryan Suter,and Zach Parise signed with the Minnesota Wild,as the top free agents,before last season,the Wild were instant Stanley Cup contenders,in the minds of the pundits... however,the Wild need more offensive help,because they are a very young team,but a very tough,physical team,on team defense... Suter,and Parise are very good players,but without some veteran offensive help in scoring tough and rough goals(goals like that are scored by people crashing the net),they may be in the Stanley Cup playoffs,but to get past teams like the Chicago Blackhawks,Boston Bruins,or other teams to get to the Stanley Cup Finals,and have chance to win the Stanley Cup... their goaltenders(Niklas Backstrom,and Josh Harding)can be very good in tandem,but can they hold up in the long run??? Harding has MS,so how long will his career be??? i do hope he has a long career,but who knows???

head coach played defense,and general manager played goaltender... oh,my...

during tonight's Alumni Charity game,in Traverse City,Michigan,two players will be noted with a laugh and smile,when they played for the Red Wings... head coach Mike Babcock played defense on the blue line,and general manager Ken Holland played in goal,as a goaltender...

suck it up,Ray...

i got very tired of feeling sorry for myself,and needed to suck it up,and go on... honestly,people have it worse than me,and i should grateful for what i have,period...

2013-2014 Winnipeg Jets...

this is about the Winnipeg Jets... they have a very young team,and yet they have two players from the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks,in Andrew Ladd(their captain),and Dustin Byfuglien(their stud on defense),and a member of the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins,in Blake Wheeler,which is a very good bunch of veterans,along with Olli Jokinen who actually led the NHL,in shootout goals,a few years ago,in Dallas,with the Stars... basically,they have a very young team who fought down to the last couple of games,before they were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs(they finished ninth in the Eastern Conference,four points behind the New York Islanders,and actually won 24 of their 48 games,with a record of 24-21-3)... their duo in the net,in Ondrej Pavelic,and Al Montoya are very good,young,and talented... their shift to the Western Conference should be eye opening to the Jets,because they are in a very solid division,with the St. Louis Blues,Minnesota Wild,Dallas Stars,and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks... a very rough road in Winnipeg to even repeat their success from last year...

blog statement...

honestly,folks,i am not in a very good mood.... had a very lousy night sleeping,and weird dreams... i need a day off... so,i am taking it off... i will be fine,and perhaps an early night of sleep will help mood...

2013-2014 Nashville Predators...

when Pekka Rinne,and Shea Weber are your best players on your team,you have a solid foundation for a very good defense... i will tell you that Barry Trotz is truly underrated as a head coach,and i really hate to admit that he may be the best head coach in the NHL,because his teams over the years have lacked some scoring punch,but the defenses of the Nashville Predators have been very superior to many teams... David Legwand and Patric Hornqvist,along with Mike Fisher form a great backbone of an offense... Hornqvist is compared to Red Wings' great Tomas Holmstrom,as being a pest around the opposing goaltenders... however,he is not as good as Holmstrom was,in front of the net,just yet... give him time,and experience,and perhaps he will be as reliable as Holmstrom,but folks,he has the talent... Pekka Rinne has been a finalist for the Vezina Trophy(best goaltender in NHL),a number of times,and really has the talent to win the Vezina Trophy,and it is just a matter of time... if he does,the Predators will challenge for the Stanley Cup...

2013-2014 Dallas Stars...

this year's Dallas Stars are in the rebuilding mode,but with a team with a goaltender like Kari Lehtonen,they could sneak into the Stanley Cup playoffs... they traded for Tyler Seguin(from Boston),and they do have some name players,like Rich Peverly(from Boston),Shawn Horcoff,and with Erik Cole,they have an workable offense... Stephane Robidas is a very good defenseman,with very young talent on the defensive side of the team means that the Stars may struggle at times offensively,but with Lehtonen,and Dan Ellis as backup,in goal,if they play a defense first teamwork offense,like the Nashville Predators,they will not be exciting to watch,but they will be a team to surprise a team or two...

yesterday's Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 4,Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 0... Lokomotiv Jaroslavl finally has a completely good game....

2013-2014 St. Louis Blues...

last year's St. Louis Blues was a very good team,shutting out the Red Wings,6-0,opening night,making the Red Wings look stupid,in the process,that night... David Backes,and T.J. Oshie are two of the best young players,but with experience,and a definite edge to their games on offense... Kevin Shattenkirk,and Barret Jackson are two of the slickest,but physical players,in the NHL,along with Jay Bouwmeester,who anchor a very good team defense... Vladimir Tarasenko is a very,very good offensive player,and made the Red Wings look silly in the games,between the two teams,and should be a real superstar,in the NHL,and at age 21,he has a long career in store... the two goaltenders(Brian Elliott,and Jaroslav Halak),in the 2011-2012 NHL season(the last 82 game season),had fifteen shutouts... Elliott had nine,and Halak had six,of the team shutouts,that season... that tandem of goaltenders may be the best in the NHL... so the Blues have the solid foundation of a good team,and should be in the Stanley Cup playoffs,this season...

blog statement...

i am going to finish my previews of the Central Division,very soon,but today i need a day off for prayer...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Barys Astana 5,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 3... Lokomotiv Jaroslavl loses 3-2 lead,after two periods,and Barys Astana scored tying,and winning goal thirty eight seconds apart,and then gave up an empty net goal to close out scoring... the goals were in the last five minutes of the game... Lokomotiv Jaroslavl seems to be snakebit,early,as they fell to 0-3...

blog statement...

normally,i do not ask for prayer,but honestly,a relative is in the hospital having a very serious operation,so folks,she needs prayer... she will recover,and that is very good,folks...

Traverse City win,for the Red Wings...

the Red Wings' prospects finally won the well known Prospects Camp,at Traverse City,Michigan,for the first time,after 15 years... they beat the Buffalo Sabres' prospects,3-2... future looks bright for the Red Wings...

NHL news...

Calgary Flames' goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff has surprised most everybody,when he retired from the NHL,today... there were hints of his retirement,but the Flames were hoping he would be playing for one more season... my opinion:i really guess he did not want to be part of a rebuilding job in Calgary...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Avengard Omsk Region 5,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 2... Lokomotiv Jarslavl stumble out of the gate,again...

blog statement...

taking day off... need rest... long day tomorrow...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Yugra Khanty-Mansiyuk 2,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 1... Yugra scored early in third period,to break 1-1 tie,and then clamped down on defense...

2013-2014 Colorado Avalanche...

there are too many players on the Avalanche roster right now to give you a very good preview of the team... however,i will do the best idea of how the Avalanche will do this season... when you have Gabriel Landeskrog,PA Parenteau,Matt Duchene,Paul Stastny,and the number one 2013 NHL Draft pick Nathan MacKinnon,from Halifax,Nova Scotia,on offense,you will have an explosive offense,and right now,a young,inexperienced,but talented defense,you are an enigma of a team... with Semyon Varlimov(an alum of Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,last season),in goal,with J.S. Giguere as backup,it looks like they are going to be very good in net this season... the Avalanche will fight for a playoff spot,if everything goes off,as planned,but in the NHL,NOTHING almost goes off,as planned...

commentary...

i have done previews for 23 of the 30 NHL teams,this off-season... you may disagree with me,on how i previewed them,so far,and to tell you the truth,i expect it,but honestly,i try to preview the teams fairly,and honestly... being a Red Wings' fan,you may expect that i would preview the Red Wings first,and slather on the praise on the team... well,folks,if you noticed,the Red Wings were previewed last in their own division(Atlantic Division),and it does not mean that the Red Wings will be last in the Atlantic Division... the 30th team previewed will be the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks... do you honestly think that the Blackhawks are going to be the worst team in the NHL,and miss the Stanley Cup playoffs,this season??? no matter how much i "despise" the Blackhawks,and i really do,i am no fool,in previewing them last in my preview of NHL teams... i will do it honestly out of respect for the Blackhawks,and to tell the truth,to do the Red Wings and/or the Blackhawks first right out of the blocks would have been very cheesy,and may have shown a bias of the teams... tomorrow,i will start the last divisional previews with the Central Division,and tell you the truth,i have not decided what team in that division to preview first,but Chicago will be last... that is reason that i have not finished the previews,yet... stay tuned... be surprised!!!!!

2013-2014 Los Angeles Kings...

the Los Angeles Kings are a very good team... Anze Kopitar,Mike Richards,and Dustin Brown anchor a team offense that is one of the best of the NHL,when clicking on all cylinders... Drew Doughty,and Slava Voynov head a team defense that can light up the scoreboard,and then rattle your teeth,and shatter your bones(joking!!!),but they can devastate you on defense with hits that would shake the building... Jonathan Quick,their goaltender,may be the best goaltender,overall,in the NHL... when he is on his A game,there may not be a better goaltender,period... a few years ago,he beat the Red Wings,1-0,in which he stopped over fifty shots... that game was enjoyable,even for me,a Red Wings' hardcore fan,because it was a game that i will always remember,and never,ever forget,and the game was in Motown... they won the Stanley Cup,in 2011-2012,becoming the first eighth seed to complete that feat,vanquishing the Vancouver Canucks,the St Louis Blues(Vancouver,and St. Louis were the top two seeds,in the Western Conference,that year),and the Phoenix Coyotes,all in five games,and then beating the New Jersey Devils,in six games,to win the Stanley Cup... amazingly,the Kings won the first three games in all four series,that season,and Jonathan Quick won the Conn Smythe Trophy,as Stanley Cup most valuable player,and he was unbelievable that playoff run...

NHL news,and comments...

i have to give props to the Chicago Blackhawks for last season's Stanley Cup,and the Blackhawks signed goaltender Corey Crawford to a six year,$36 million contract extension... so this upcoming season,i really do not care about last season... so,GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!!!

blog statement...

it has been a very long day... i am resting,and sleeping most of the day... i will be back blogging tomorrow...

correction...

i accidently put a different headline on the preview of the 2013-2014 Anaheim Ducks... i corrected that mistake,to "2013-2014 Anaheim Ducks... sorry,folks...

2013-2014 Anaheim Ducks...

with possibly the best pure skater in NHL history,Teemu Selanne,who is entering his 21st season,the Ducks have a team that could be playoff bound... Selanne may not be the best overall player on the team,he is the heart of the team,i have to admit,and where he goes,the team goes,because he is a phenom,even at his age(43)... with Saku Koivu,he anchors a very talented team offense,and to remind you,that if not for a slashing penalty,on defenseman Sheldon Souray,they had the Red Wings on the spit,ready to roast,in game seven of their opening round seven game series... the penalty put the Red Wings on the power play,and then shortly the Red Wings ended the Ducks' season,in overtime... with Jonas Hiller,and Viktor Fasth,backing him up,in goal,the Ducks will be tough to beat,because Hiller and Fasth are a very good goaltender duo,period... the team defense is anchored by Hiller,with Souray adding some grit,to a very talented defense... the team will be fighting for a playoff spot,and they have the talent to contend for the Pacific Division crown,but without Bobby Ryan(in Ottawa),it may be somewhat tougher,but honestly,they are a playoff team,on paper,but again,paper does not win anything... watching them play will be fun.... historic note:Selanne holds the goal scoring record as a rookie,when he torched the NHL,for 76 goals,with the(original)Winnipeg Jets,in 1992-1993...

2013-2014 Phoenix Coyotes...

Shane Doan is the last original Winnipeg Jets' player on the Phoenix Coyotes roster,and i feel like he deserves a shot at a playoff run going for the Stanley Cup... he is a class act,period... Martin Handal,and Doan are the backbone of the Coyotes' offense,and they will score goals;being a gritty team,and crashing the net... they have a very good team offense,and goaltender Mike Smith is very good,the team defense does have a firecracker in Keith Yandle,who is becoming one of the best defenseman,in the NHL,and Derek Morris who is a gritty defenseman... they have a gritty team defense;blocking shots,and being a physical team... but what stops Phoenix??? being in the same division,with the Los Angeles Kings,Anaheim Ducks,Vancouver Canucks,and the San Jose Sharks??? the Coyotes should be fighting for a playoff spot,in the Western Conference,and can they score enough goals to compete with everybody else,in the conference,including the Pacific Division... tough division,isn't it???

funny man,that Teemu...

like i hinted earlier on blog,about coming back,Teemu Selanne released a humorous golf video;throwing his golf bag,in mock frustration in a pond,and then forgetting his cell phone,in the bag,and swimming after it,retrieving the phone,and calling Anaheim Ducks' general manager Bob Murray,and telling him that,"i'm coming back... this is it... this is my final one..." he signed an one year,$2 million contract... going into his 21st season,he has 675 goals,and should be representing Finland in 2014 Winter Olympics,in Sochi,Russia,for the sixth time...

commentary...

it has been a very long off-season for true hockey fans... i am anxious to find out how the Red Wings will fare in the Eastern Conference... i have a nervous stomach(butterflies),because of it,but things will work out quite fine,i believe,but who knows,but knowing the coaching staff,and the front office,they will be ready to face the Buffalo Sabres,October 2nd,2013(their opening night),at Joe Louis Arena... it will be a new beginning for the Red Wings,after years of wanting to be in the Eastern Conference,they get their wish,so,GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!!

2013-2014 Vancouver Canucks...

the Vancouver Canucks are a team with much talent... a team who lost to the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals,in 2011,and who has been a very good team for years... people have been telling the hockey world for years that the Canucks are a very talented team just waiting to win the Stanley Cup... they are that,but when they had a chance to win Stanley,they were out-scored 23-8,in seven very good,strange,but weird Finals' games,by the Boston Bruins,in 2011... only Roberto Luongo kept them in that series,having his best playoff run,in his NHL career... the Sedin twins(Henrik,and Daniel),along with Ryan Kesler,highlight the team offense,and they have Luongo in net,but is he the same goaltender,as in 2011??? Kevin Bieska and Alexander Edler head a rough and tough team defense,and they can contribute to the offense,and the weakness,if any,would not be physical,but mentally,they may be fragile in the Stanley Cup playoffs... interesting team,this season...

2013-2014 Edmonton Oilers...

this should be an easy preview to write,but the Edmonton Oilers is an enigma to me... they have bountiful riches in talent,but they also finished dead last,and next to last in the NHL,to collect three straight number one draft picks... Tyler Hall,Ryan Nugent-Hopkins,and Nail Yakupov,along with the last player to score eight points in a game-Sam Gagner power a high powered offense... the Oilers are a team that is young and inexperienced,but improving every year... the team defense is anchored by Ladislav Smid,Nick Schultz,and Denis Grebeshkov,but gives up too many shots,and yet,is improving every year... in net is Devan Dubnyk,a young,and improving goaltender,who honestly beat the Red Wings for his first career NHL win,in goal,after going zero for seven,in his first seven starts... he is very,very quick,and is improving in net... the fact is the Oilers are an improved team,and is improving in every way...(get the point!!!!!) IMPROVING... can they make the playoffs this upcoming season??? very possible to be fighting for a playoff spot,but they could also be struggling,depending on their start to the season...

comments...

the Red Wings will be in a real dogfight this season,to just settle into the Eastern Conference,and get used to playing teams that they have not played too many times,in the past,and in the next month,i will be preparing to know every team,in the Eastern Conference,like i know the back of my hand... opening night of the 2013-2014 NHL season will be challenging to me,but i will be ready!!!!!!!!!

2013-2014 Calgary Flames...

when you have 36 year old Miikka Kiprusoff as your best player,and have a basic unknown roster of players,your team is in deep trouble... the Calgary Flames are a rebuilding team,no doubt,and that is misery for the fans,or patience,if you must believe... when Jarome Iginla was traded to Pittsburgh(now in Boston,with the Bruins),that was a very sad day in Calgary,and now,there were grumbles that Kiprusoff may retire,but was talked out of retirement in Finland... Mike Cammalleri,and Curtis Glencross head a basically unknown group of players on offense,and Mark Giordano,along with Dennis Wideman bolster a group of hard nosed players that does work hard on defense,and with Kiprusoff in net,they will have very good team defense,but can they score that many goals,to compete in the Pacific Division??? that is the $64,000 question that has to be answered....

blog statement...

i will preview the rest of the Pacific Division,starting tomorrow,then the Central Division ending with the Stanley Cup Champions Chicago Blackhawks...

comments...

it has been a very long off-season for me... it also has been boring,period... i can not wait to see the NHL,this upcoming season... it will be different,interesting,and still a dogfight,for the Red Wings,in the Eastern Conference...

KHL update...

the Kontinental Hockey League opens their season 4 September 2013,and Lokomotiv Jaroslavl plays Yugra-Khanty Mansiysk,on 6 September 2013...

commentary...

before you criticize my Sharks' critique too much:let me remind you that when you do not change the team dynamic for five different seasons(having Joe Thornton,and Patrick Marleau,as your team's top guns during that time),and have an AHL team that has not produced any really big scoring help,besides Logan Couture,in years,and your total points go from 117,in 2008-2009,to 96,in 2011-2012,the rest of the NHL either has gotten better,or your team has become static,has not gotten any better,or besides your goaltender,your team has not seen any noticeable improvement on your team roster,which is the fault of the front office,and not your coach,who is one of the best in the NHL... give your coach some team roster help,and maybe the Sharks will improve,and move further into the Stanley Cup playoffs... i never said that the Sharks were not a Stanley Cup contender,did i??? they are a contender,as long as Niemi is in net,because he is one of the best goaltenders,in the NHL,period...

2013-2014 San Jose Sharks...

i have pounded on the San Jose Sharks for years,because their roster has been rebuilt a number of times,and they keep on saying that they are going to make a run at the Stanley Cup,every year,and yet,they have come up short... they have the second longest current NHL streak of playoff appearances,at nine years,behind Red Wings' current 22 year streak of making the playoffs... that is the good news... the bad news is that in the last five years of their last playoff series,that year,the record that they have is a very,very paltry 7-20,against the opponents that booted them out of the playoffs,those seasons... they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks,and the Vancouver Canucks,in back to back years,in the Western Conference finals,winning only one game,between those two years... Chicago won the Stanley Cup,in 2010,and Vancouver lost to the Boston Bruins,in seven weird games,in 2011... in the last four complete NHL seasons,they have declined every year,in total points,from 117,in 2008-2009,to 96,in 2011-2012,and have dropped from first,in the Pacific Division,in 2008-2009,to third,last season(2013 NHL season)... their best player just signed a five year contract extension,in Logan Couture,but i believe the problems that the Sharks face are three-fold:1)their roster has not changed that much,since 2008-2009,and 2)the mental state of the team during the Stanley Cup playoffs,because the team has had some very good,sometimes superior,regular seasons,but some spectacular playoff collapses,and 3)their static front office that seems not to have a clue to build,or rebuild,a team that is going nowhere fast... they have talent to make the Stanley Cup playoffs,but the stars on the team are getting older,and their American Hockey League affiliate,in Worcester,Mass. needs to step up to restock their team... Joe Thornton,Patrick Marleau,and Couture bolster their team offensive core,but Thornton,and Marleau are getting older,and they are almost predictable in the way they play their games,which is not always a bad idea for a team,but with a team that has some stars who are long in the tooth that may not be that good... Brad Stuart heads a team defense that may give too many shots,in the games that they played,last season... Antti Niemi is one of the NHL best goaltenders,period,but facing too many pucks,may be the team's downfall,but again,Niemi is one of the best goaltenders,in the NHL,so it will be interesting to see them play,in a reconfigured Pacific Division,with the Vancouver Canucks,the Calgary Flames,the Edmonton Oilers,the Phoenix Coyotes,the Anaheim Ducks,and the Los Angeles Kings...

2013-2014 Pittsburgh Penguins...

the Pittsburgh Penguins have two of the top players in the NHL,in Evgeni Malkin,and their captain,Sidney Crosby(ranked last year,as the best player in the NHL),to bolster their offense,but why are they talked about in second tier terms,in some areas of the hockey world,because their team defense in the last two playoff runs has been anything but stellar;in 2011-2012,they lost a playoff series that was a total shootout,every game,against hated rival Philadelphia Flyers,in a brutal six games(for example:Philadelphia won game two,and three,by a combined score of 16-9(8-5;game two,and 8-4;game three),and then Philadelphia lost game four,by an unbelievable score of 10-3)... they also lost a series to Boston in the playoffs,last season,in which they scored only two goals... are they a team who scored a ton of goals and lose,or are they a team who can not score a lick,while under pressure??? near the Stanley Cup last season,their goaltending was very bad compared to other seasons... Marc-Andre Fleury had his worst season in net(so much so that Tomas Vokoun was starting goaltender in the playoffs but he is 37 years old),and has to improve for the Penguins to go anywhere near the Stanley Cup... the Penguins have enough talent to make the Stanley Cup playoffs,but can they get past other teams in the playoff tournament that is the run for Lord's Stanley Cup... time will tell...

comments....

Red Wings' forward Pavel Datsyuk created some controversy,when he was interviewed by sovsport.ru,in Russia,on the subject of gay rights... he simply said,when asked about gay rights:(Google translated)"i am(Russian)Orthodox,it says it all"... my opinion:i really do not care about what he said,but as for gay rights,i am,"let them live as they want,and it is simply none of my business"... simply said!!!!!!!! the opinions of other people are their own....

2013-2014 Philadelphia Flyers...

the fans of the teams of the city of Philadelphia are notorious for being passionate about their sports teams... at the Vet,they actually booed Santa Claus,and lustfully cheered when Dallas Cowboys' Hall of Fame member Michael Irvin got his neck injured,and carted off the field(he shortly retired after that)... during the glory days of the Flyers,and the days,of "the Broad Street Bullies",the Soviets refused to play a game(during the game),because the rough and tumble play of the Flyers... the Soviets did walk off the ice,and into the visitors' dressing room,but came back,and finished the game,under protest... at the ECW arena(basically a bingo hall,in South Philadelphia),the fans were so rowdy that they even brought something into the arena to let the wrestlers bash each other with,during matches,and then cheer for blood,screaming,"ECW,ECW,ECW",in the process... during the 1974-1976 seasons,in which they won the Stanley Cup,a player(noted earlier,in blog)set the NHL record for most penalty minutes in a season that still stands(472 penalty minutes)... the Baltimore Ravens even refused to play a exhibition game,at the Vet,because of the condition of the Astro Turf was so bad that pieces of the turf came up before the game and the seams were so bad that head coach Brian Billick simply refused to play,so game was cancelled... i bring that all up as a prelude to the current team... the Flyers have been known as a physical team throughout the years,and with Wayne Simmonds,and Jakub Voracek on the team,that will not change... Claude Giroux,and new Flyer,Vincent LeCavalier head the offense,and should bolster their offensive scoring,and Kimmo Timonen,and Mark Streit anchors the good,unknown(as having very few players known outside Philadelphia),and physical defense... in goal they have Ray Embry,who was 17-0-1,as the Chicago Blackhawks' backup,last season,and then promptly got traded... he should be the usual Philadelphia Flyers' goaltender,rough and tough,and refuse to take any guff... teams who play the Flyers should,and will be,in for a rough night in Philly...

comments...

NHL off-season is absolutely BORING!!!!!!!!! there are only a certain number of days that you can talk about free agent signings,and own team signings without going crazy,and start acting like everything is so important... they call this "the silly season",and right now,i am at the wit's end of talking about NHL hockey,even though i will finish previews of the Eastern Conference teams(Philadelphia Flyers,and the Pittsburgh Penguins),tomorrow... i really can not wait for the 2013-2014 NHL season to start...

blog statement...

today is my birthday... so day off today... celebrating one more candle on cake...

odd hockey trivia...

if you are wondering about the International Hockey League,question:did they ever have teams in California,and overseas??? answer:yes:the San Diego Gulls,from 1990-1995,and the San Francisco Spyders,in the 1995-1996 season,most likely,based in the Cow Palace... they even had a team in Russia,called the Russian Penguins,and then the Soviet Wings,in the 1994-1995 season(Penguins),and the 1995-1996 season(Soviet Wings)... note for you Red Wings' fans:funny thing is that the Grand Rapids Griffiths were members of the IHL,from 1996-2001...

a total class act...

the ECHL(once known as the East Coast Hockey League)has an expansion franchise in Orlando,Florida... it should be small news in the hockey world,but folks,it is not small news,after all... the team will be known as the Solar Bears,and will an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild... why,oh why,is it not a blurb on a sports page,and only a blurb... well,the Solar Bears actually won a championship,in the International Hockey League,in 2001,then the league disbanded,winning the final Turner Cup,in the progress... when the ECHL expanded,they came to Orlando,and named the team the Solar Bears,so they got ahold of the Hockey Hall of Fame,and got their permission to use the Turner Cup,when they raise the Solar Bears' 2001 IHL Championship banner,in Orlando... most of the team will be in Orlando(RIP Dan Snyder) for the banner raising ceremony,and the expansion Solar Bears will wear throwback sweaters(jerseys),in honor of the 2001 IHL Champions,that night... so the Solar Bears will actually celebrate a championship,twelve years late...

2013-2014 New York Rangers...

when Henrik Lundquist is the face of your team,as the New York Rangers are,you have a team who have a chance for the Stanley Cup playoffs... they call him,"the King"(cheesy,no doubt),but he is really that good... even though they have improved over the last three seasons,making the Stanley Cup playoffs each season,they are a team who have been offensively challenged,but with Lundquist,they are a rough and tumble team,and are a very tough team to play,on defense... Rangers' captain Ryan Callahan spearheads a very young and talented offense,but can they score enough goals to be consistent to compete,with the other Eastern Conference teams... however,with Lundquist in net,and the defense that reminds me more,of rough and tumble Philadelphia,than finesse minded Pittsburgh,it will be interesting to see whether the Rangers can make the Stanley Cup playoffs this season...

comments...

i will finish previews of the Eastern Conference teams,starting tomorrow(New York Rangers,Philadelphia Flyers,and Pittsburgh Penguins-in that order),then the Western Conference teams,by end of week...

blog statement...

it is break time... day off... mentally,i need to "recharge" batteries...

2013-2014 New York Islanders...

the New York Islanders are a very young team who made the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs,and they put a real scare into the Pittsburgh Penguins,before the Penguins straightened out their team defense... with Michael Grabner,Kyle Okposo,and John Tavares,and Matt Moulson,on offense,they have a real strong offensive core of players... Lubomir Visnovsky,Andrew MacDonald,Mark Strait anchor their very good team defense,but their main weakness is in goal,not because of talent,but because of age,in Evgeni Nabokov,who is 38 years,and even though he had basically a career year in net,the question remains:can he repeat the great(and they were great)numbers,in net,for the Islanders???

NHL news,and comments...

the Anaheim Ducks,and perhaps their best player in franchise history,Teemu Selanne are again talking about a contract,for 2013-2014,which is not strange,because they did the same thing last season... my opinion:he is training in Southern California,so he should be back,with the Ducks,in 2013-2014...

NHL news...

Gabriel Landeskrog,captain of the Colorado Avalanche,signed a seven year,$39 million contract extension... my opinion:Landeskrog may be the best Avalanche player,since Peter Forsberg,and Joe Sakic...

NHL news,and commentary...

NBA's Philadelphia 76ers' owner Josh Harris has been approved as new owner of the NHL's New Jersey Devils... the Bergen(N.J.)Record indicate the deal is worth in the area of $320 million... note:other NHL owners,who have owned other league teams:Charlie O. Finley,who was one of the owners(one of many)of the NHL's California Golden Seals... one story of Finley's oddities as owner:he painted the skates white,as the Oakland Athletics,which he also owned... at the end of the season the skates weighed as much as twenty pounds... Wayne Huizenga owned the Florida Panthers,the now-Miami Marlins(then the Florida Marlins),and has 5% of the Miami Dolphins,now,and finally Ted Turner,who owned the Atlanta Thrashers,Braves,and Hawks,at the same time...

commentary...

i love the beautiful game of hockey... it is a game of a kid skating on ice,and just shooting the puck into an empty net,practicing his shots and skating... people may believe hockey is a tough game to play... they are wrong in saying that,because it is an easy game to play,but it is a game that is tough to master,and the NHL is the top league in the world... the roster of NHL teams consist of twenty three to twenty five players/per team,and that is for the regular season,and they increase that for the Stanley Cup playoffs,but,honestly,the number of players who play NHL hockey are the best of the best,and very few are in that realm of near perfection... the game of hockey is beautiful,easy to play,but hard to master...

2013-2014 Washington Capitals...

who is Alex Ovechkin??? one of the most amazing goal scorers in NHL history,period... the Washington Capitals are a team,who have an abundance of riches in goal,in Braden Holtby,and Michal Neuvirth,who are two of the younger goaltenders,in the NHL,but,perhaps,two of the most talented goaltenders... the Capitals are known to be a offensive scoring machine,but Ovechkin has had lower goal numbers,over the last few years,but honestly,the Capitals' offense has not been clicking on all cylinders,for a couple years,now... however,they went on a goal scoring binge,supplied mostly by Ovechkin,and Nicklas Backstrom,who is very,very talented,to make the playoffs last season,but got hammered by the New York Rangers,losing in seven games,but losing four of last five games,after going up two games to none,and they scored only one goal,in last three games(a 2-1 loss),and losing 1-0,in game six,and then getting hammered,5-0,in game seven... their team defense has to improve,to go anywhere near the Stanley Cup,and they have young talent,and their big gun,in Mike Green,on defense,who was a finalist for the Norris Trophy(best defenseman)has to really get back to his elite status,as a defenseman,but honestly,has not played up to that level for awhile... will he??? time will tell,folks...

unbreakable historic hockey trivia...

what is the NHL record for penalty minutes,by one player,in one season??? answer:Dave Schultz had 472 penalty minutes,in 1974-1975,with the Philadelphia Flyers... note:it was in the era of,"the Broad Street Bullies"...

2013-2014 New Jersey Devils...

the New Jersey Devils are an enigma this year... financially,the Devils are looking for an owner,and there are grumbles that the NHL may take control over ownership,until there are an owner is in place,and there are suitors looking at the Devils... on the ice,Travis Zajac and the Devils' offense should be better,with the addition of Ryan Clowe(from the New York Rangers(a cup of coffee),and the San Jose Sharks)... the team defense has been very good for years,but a 41 year old Martin Brodeur backstops the defense,and even though,Marty is a sure fire Hall of Fame member,how long can he go on??? he has been rather injury free in his long career,but has had an injury,in last few years,that took a season from him(arm injury)... the trade of Vancouver Canucks' starter/backup Corey Schneider at the NHL Draft made great sense for the Devils,at this point... getting mentored by Martin Brodeur should pay great dividends to Schneider,and the Devils... Schneider split time with Roberto Luongo,last year,in Vancouver,so he should be the perfect grooming prospect for New Jersey,as he eases into being the starter for the Devils,going into the future...

blog statement...

having a nice day... too nice to be blogging... be back tomorrow...

2013-2014 Columbus Blue Jackets...

when your goalie wins the Vezina Trophy,for best goaltender,in NHL,and you do not make the Stanley Cup playoffs,because of the first tiebreaker(regulation/overtime wins),you have a bright future,or you suck,because you could not win a game,in regulation,or overtime,last season... Sergei Bobrovsky won the Vezina Trophy,and he was the Blue Jackets' most valuable player,period,last season... they beat the Red Wings every game last year,but had a seriously hard time beating anybody else... they had Marian Gaborik on offense,and they were very tough on defense,but they scored very few goals,against the top teams,in the Western Conference,and it was a mystery to me how they beat the Red Wings... i guess the Red Wings overlooked the Blue Jackets,and it honestly made the Red Wings' playoff run much harder,and it showed that the Blue Jackets that they were a scrappy team,last season... now that they are in the Eastern Conference,it may be easier,but again,it may be much harder facing,for example,the Pittsburgh Penguins,with Sidney Crosby,and Evgeni Malkin,and company,as the Penguins,and Blue Jackets,are division rivals,in the Metropolitan Division... much luck,Blue Jackets!!!!!!

sorry,folks...

the blogpost about the Columbus Blue Jackets,and their preview will be tomorrow... my head is throbbing(not bad),but i really had a hard time concentrating on anything,but folks,i will be fine...

hockey's most historic trade...

twenty five years ago today,history was made when the Edmonton Oilers traded one player to the(at that time) lowly Los Angeles Kings... it broke the city of Edmonton's collective heart,who had just won their fourth Stanley Cup,and yet,it expanded the beautiful game of hockey,to national levels,in the United States,in terms of appearances... who was that player??? answer:Wayne "the Great One" Gretzky...

comments...

even though,it is NHL off-season,sometimes,it is absolutely boring to talk of player signings,day after day,so i take this day off to recharge my "mental" batteries,and will be back tomorrow... folks,i love the beautiful game of hockey,and will preview the Columbus Blue Jackets(Metropolitan Division),tomorrow... i started the Metropolitan Division with the Carolina Hurricanes,yesterday...

2013-2014 Carolina Hurricanes...

i am going through the Eastern Conference first,then the Western Conference:now for the Carolina Hurricanes:the offense will be bolstered by Jeff Skinner,the Staal brothers(Eric,and Jordan),and Alexander Semin... those four players will be the offensive core... the team defense will be backed by Tim Gleason,and Joni Pitkanen... the man in goal has won a Stanley Cup(Cam Ward),in 2006,but he needs to be better,and right now,they note him to be on injured reserve... injured reserve in NHL is much different than the NFL,but coming off an injury is not easy... luckily,it is not training camp,yet... Ward is honestly the backbone of the team... as he goes,the former Hartford Whalers franchise(have to put that in)the Hurricanes go,period... you talk about offense most of the time,but here in Raleigh,the major key is Ward... you talk about goaltenders who have won a Stanley Cup,but honestly,Cam Ward is the "quiet man",of the NHL... he just goes to work,does his job(most of the time,very well),and goes home... a very good goaltender,indeed...

blog statement...

i will try to go through the rest of the NHL,and give previews of every team in the League,starting tomorrow...

2013-2014 Detroit Red Wings...

the Red Wings have been to the Stanley Cup playoffs 22 straight seasons,but this upcoming season is somewhat different... the Red Wings are now in the Eastern Conference,and i have a very hard time gauging how the Red Wings will fit into the conference... i have talked about the talent of the Red Wings for years,and i honestly feel that the Red Wings' talent,including goaltender Jimmy Howard,will fit into the Eastern Conference quite nicely... one poll this offseason ranked Howard 17th in the top 30 goaltenders... he may not be the best goaltender in the NHL,but 17th??? what morons voted him 17th(YAHOO)... he was Red Wings' MVP last season,no doubt... with Pavel Datsyuk,Henrik Zetterberg,Stephen Weiss,and Daniel Alfordsson,on offense,and with Niklas Kronwall(Kronwalled-a crushing butt-first hit)and my favorite defensive player for that big hit,folks,along with Jakub Kindl,and Jonathan Ericsson on defense,the Red Wings will score goals,however somewhat inconsistently,but the offense,and power play will be ultimately better,with the additions of Weiss,and Alfordsson,and honestly,can the Red Wings play better overall team defense,when they play some of the best offensive teams,in Tampa Bay(with the Lightning,and Steven Stamkos,and Martin St. Louis),Washington Capitals(with Alex Ovechkin),and the Pittsburgh Penguins(with Sidney Crosby,and Evgeni Malkin)... first year,in the Eastern Conference should be interesting,folks,in Motown!!!!!!

Breaking NHL news...

the NHL Board of Governors approved Renaissance Sports,and Entertainment,also known as IceArizona,as the owners of the Phoenix Coyotes...

2013-2014 Montreal Canadiens...

expect the Montreal Canadiens to be rough,tough,and very physical... with Danny Briere,Brian Gionta,and Alex Galchenyuk,on offense,they should be nasty,physical,and a load to play every night... with George Parros,on offense,and P.K. Subban,on defense,they have two notorious fighters(Parros being the better fighter),and they have offensive firepower,but Subban is a very good defensive player(winning the Norris Trophy,in the 2013 NHL season),so they should be very good on team defense,and with Carey Price in net,they have a very,very good chance to be in the Stanley Cup playoffs,in 2013-2014... what division the Red Wings landed in this season... a rough and tough division...

2013-2014 Ottawa Senators...

with Jason Spezza,and Bobby Ryan(signed from Anaheim)on offense,and Erik Karlsson,one of the best defensive players,in the NHL,and a coach with Red Wings' roots,in Paul MacLean,the Ottawa Senators should be in the playoffs,or,at least,be fighting for a playoff spot... the goaltender in Ottawa is Craig Anderson,a serviceable goaltender,who also played in Colorado,with the Avalanche,who had a very good year last season,and like i have said before:can he repeat those good numbers year after year... Ottawa had a very good year last season,but with the stacked teams in the Atlantic Division,are they an elite playoff team this upcoming season??? they are a rough and tough team(being physical)... they will score goals,but like Tampa Bay,noted earlier,can they stop enough pucks to be competitive,in the Atlantic Division??? again,an very interesting team to watch this season...

blog statement...

having a day off... too nice outside...

commentary...

CBC's exclusive window to negotiate with the NHL expires next month,so if it elapses,what happens to Hockey Night in Canada(HNIC,from now on)??? CBC can give the NHL greater time on air than TSN,or CTV,and they will make up to $400 million,or more,for broadcasting rights of the NHL,and the Stanley Cup playoffs... HNIC is 60 seasons strong,and i honestly believe that the NHL,and CBC will work out a deal,but they had trouble in 2006,and 2007,because NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman wanted to spread out NHL games,and gave CBC the hard real shaft,by putting off the negotiations with CBC,until the very bitter end of time allowed,in negotiations...

news...

i have to note that the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament starts tomorrow... it is also known as the under-18 Junior World Cup... the United States team won the tournament in 2003...

2013-2014 Toronto Maple Leafs...

now to talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs,the bad news:they were up 4-1,5:29 into the third period,in game seven,opening round,against the Bruins,and lost in a very bad collapse,5-4,in overtime,last season... now for the good news:they have enough talent to get back into the playoffs this upcoming season... Phil Kessel,Joffery Lupul,and the player that ended the 2013 NHL season,when he scored the Stanley Cup winning goal,against the Boston Bruins,in game six of the Stanley Cup Finals,for the Chicago Blackhawks,in Dave Bolland,power the Leafs' offense,and captain Dion Phaneuf,and John-Michael Lilies stock up their defense... the goaltender of the Leafs is James Reimer,who is a young stud in goal,and really should be very good for years... interesting team to really look at,because they have real talent to go back to back into the Stanley Cup playoffs this upcoming season,but are they a team to get there,or they a team that collapses at the end of the season,like they have done too many times,to count,recently???

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings will retire former captain Nicklas Lidstrom's number 5 sweater,on March 6,2014,before game,against the Colorado Avalanche...

2013-2014 Buffalo Sabres...

the Buffalo Sabres are a team,who has a goaltender,in Ryan Miller,in which he can be very good,or very bad in net... his confidence has been shaken,by the fact that the Sabres are basically rebuilding,and have been for a couple years... Thomas Vanek is their best offensive player,but without the best that Miller can do,the Sabres will be fighting for the last playoff spot throughout the season... the Buffalo Sabres have been like the city:gritty,and tough... they have some very good players,but without outstanding play,by Miller,and Vanek,they will be rebuilding this year,and years to come... note: the NHL playoff structure has been changed,but before i give it out,i want to get it correct...