trivia...

the NHL record to start a season undefeated is owned by:the 1984-1985 Edmonton Oilers,at 15 games,with 12 wins and 3 ties... record for overall winning streak,to start a season is owned by two teams:1992-1993 Toronto Maple Leafs,and 2006-2007 Buffalo Sabres,at 10 games... the longest winning streak of a team,without ties,is owned by:1992-1993 Pittsburgh Penguins,at 17 games... the longest home and longest road winning streaks,are owned by:home:2011-2012 Detroit Red Wings,at 23 games,road:2005-2006 Detroit Red Wings,at 12 games... the record for a team to go without a regulation loss is owned by:1979-1980 Philadelphia Flyers,at 35 games,with 25 wins,and 10 ties... the record for a team to go without a regulation loss to start a season,is owned by:2006-2007 Anaheim Ducks,at 16 games,with 12 wins,and 4 overtime losses...

NHL news...

Ottawa Senators' forward Jason Spezza will be out indefinitely with a herniated disc in his back,and will have surgery shortly...

commentary...

there are conflicting reports on who wants to own the Phoenix Coyotes??? former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison has said over the past year that he wants to buy the Coyotes,but right now apparently can not come up with the money due,to buy the team,so there is another ownership group willing to step in and buy the team... there has been at least four different groups,or individuals,who have expressed interest in buying the team,but there have been lawsuits to stop,at least,one person from buying the team,and many problems with the lease of the property,and the Glendale city council... so the NHL still owns the team even four years after declaring bankruptcy,and a lawsuit or two... the circus has not left Glendale,in four years,and apparently,the tent is going to be up,for some time,yet...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 4,Stars 1...

Red Wings' news...

Dallas Stars/Red Wings,tonight...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 2,Torpedo Nizhny Novgrod 1... Stefan Kronwall,brother of the Red Wings' defenseman Niklas Kronwall,had game winning goal just after midway,into second period...

commentary...

if you liked defense,the game between the Blackhawks,and the Red Wings was your cup of tea,but for the average fan,it was a snorefest... Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard,and Blackhawks' goaltender Corey Crawford had great games,each allowing one goal,in regulation... Blackhawks' defenseman Duncan Keith scored early in the first period,and Red Wings' forward,Johan Franzen scored early in third period,and then Blackhawks' defenseman Nick Leddy scored,on Howard,to win game in overtime... defensively,both teams played great,but offensively,both teams really sucked... point of series:the Blackhawks have won nine of the last thirteen games,and the last nine games between the teams have been decided by one goal...

game score,and comment...

Blackhawks 2,Red Wings 1,overtime win... great game for both teams,and Red Wings get an useful point,for the season... more on game,later...

Red Wings' news...

Chicago Blackhawks/Red Wings,tonight...

comment...

there was a brutal hit,by Sharks' defenseman Brad Stuart,on Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskrog,in today's 4-0 Sharks' win,that should have Stuart suspended for some games,or,at least,talk to NHL Director of Player Safety,Brendan Shanahan... good luck,Brad(laughing)...

NHL history...

Patrick Marleau,of the San Jose Sharks,matched Cy Denneny of the 1917-1918(the original)Ottawa Senators,to start a NHL season with four multi-goal games,today...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 5,Wild 3... Todd Bertuzzi,in first game for him this season,scored two goals,along with Pavel Datsyuk,who had three points,Henrik Zetterberg,and Damien Brunner... the Red Wings scored four goals,in second period,including their first power play goal,thirteen seconds,into second period(they had two power play goals),and scored twice,in fifty five seconds,and then the Wild tied game at 2,in 3:40 of game time,before halfway through the game,and the Red Wings scored twice more,in 4:32 of game time,to end the second period,up,4-2,then at 4:18 of the third period,the Red Wings scored again to make it,5-2,Red Wings... Zach Parise,of the Wild scored his second goal,off Henrik Zetterberg's thigh,or knee,as puck trickled just over the goal line,on a fluke goal,to close out scoring... the Red Wings then played near flawless defense the last half of the third period,to even season record,at 2,and ice game...

Minnesota Wild/Red Wings,tonight... game score,after the game...

commentary...

the Red Wings,this season,remind me of the 2009-2010 team,in which they had so many players come up from Grand Rapids,during the season,that i honestly called them,"the Detroit Griffiths" once,not because of injuries,but losing to three major stars,to retirement,and to free agency gives chances to a younger defensive back end of their roster... the coaching of those players will take time,so the Red Wings' offense,and defense will take time to gel,and they do have talent to contend,to be in the playoffs,for the 22nd straight year,however,honestly,it will be close to fight for a playoff spot,unless they gel quickly,and avoid injuries,but like 2009-2010,they seem to be bit by the injury bug,so far,and yet, luckily,the injuries to the players have not been too serious to the team,but the fact that there will be forty eight games,not eighty two games does not help the team,and that will be a drawback to the Red Wings' chances to make the playoffs... however,if they sustain any serious injuries,they will be in trouble... the coaching staff,and the front office,of the Red Wings is honestly top-notch,and that may be their major advantage,overall... in the three games of the season,so far,the Red Wings have been very,very inconsistent,scoring only four goals,in regulation*(three of them in one game,and the other one in last four seconds,of game three),and the simple fact that they have not scored on their power play,yet,just means that they will struggle scoring goals early in the season,and it will be tough to watch them play,but if i am a true hardcore fan,it will be somewhat fun to watch the Red Wings mature,as a team,this season... however the Red Wings' defense has been very very poor,almost atrocious,in their execution,giving up six goals(three of them coming on breakdowns,in the atrocious 6-0 loss,to the St. Louis Blues),and giving up eleven goals,overall,this season,so far... that game was so bad that the defensive stats for the Red Wings' team will be skewed,for most of the short season... i expect the defense of the Red Wings to improve over the rest of the season,but without the Red Wings' offense improving(and they will),the Red Wings will be a fun team to watch,but for the hardcore fan,they will also be very frustrating to watch,and very inconsistent,early in the season,and maybe throughout the rest of the season... *another goal came in shootout...

blog statement...

the blogpost on the Red Wings that i was going to write today,will be written tomorrow,because i simply want to do it justice,and to do it halfway,would be wrong...

commentary...

the game,against Dallas,was a good game between the Dallas Stars,and the Red Wings... Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard stopped everybody,but Michael Ryder,and made some spectacular saves throughout the game... should have had a better outcome than a tough loss,but Stars' goaltender Kari Lehtonen just had a better game,not allowing a goal,until there was four seconds left,in the game... the good things to come out of this game is that the Red Wings just refused to give up on scoring goals,but the Red Wings are struggling to put the puck into the net(more on that,in next blogpost,later on today),and they have not had a power play goal,yet,so far this season... my opinion:if the Red Wings play as hard as they did,last night,they will be a good team,this season...

odd trivia...

the last time the Red Wings got shut out on opening night,before St. Louis did the deed,on Saturday night,was in the 1958-1959 NHL season,when they played only 70 games,and was last in the six team(at the time)NHL,with a record of 25-37-8...

Red Wings' game score...

Dallas Stars 2, Red Wings 1... great game for Kari Lehtonen(Stars' goaltender),and Jimmy Howard(Red Wings' goaltender)... Michael Ryder scored two goals for the Stars,and Damien Brunner scored his first NHL goal,for the Red Wings... shootout goals(he scored in shootout,last night,against the Columbus Blue Jackets)do not count for league totals... commentary,on game,and on the Red Wings' season,so far,tomorrow morning...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 2,Dinamo Riga 1,shootout win...

Red Wings' news...

one of the greats,in Red Wings history,Tomas Holmstrom,retired,today... "Homer" was the greatest puck tipper,perhaps,in NHL history,and deflecting pucks,up to 100 miles per hour past the goaltender,in front of the goaltender,getting whacks,and high checks by other players,was his forte,and he did it for fifteen years,and 1,026 games,all with the Red Wings... this is my opinion,but he would be a Hall of Fame member... he was the last Red Wings' player,who won four Stanley Cups,all with the Red Wings,to retire... congrats,"Homer"...

commentary...

Damien Brunner scored a shootout goal(the only shootout goal between Detroit,and Columbus)that defies description,as the Detroit Red Wings fought like dogs,scratched,and clawed for their first win of the 2013 NHL season... goaltender Jimmy Howard played very well,as the Red Wings even fought back from a 3-2 deficit,when Pavel Datsyuk scored a highlight goal,to tie game,at three... odd trivia,this year:who scored the very first goal,for the Red Wings? a little known rookie,who was playing his NHL debut,and was called up,from Grand Rapids,the same day? one,Brian Lashoff... the Red Wings play much better than against the St. Louis Blues,when they got steamrolled,and crushed opening night... that is a plus...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 4,Columbus Blue Jackets 3,shootout win... commentary,tomorrow morning...

Red Wings' news...

it was reported that Todd Bertuzzi,of the Red Wings had mono,so he was out several weeks... however,apparently tests were wrong,so he will play against the Columbus Blue Jackets,tonight...

last two Lokomotiv Jaroslavl games...

Spartak Moscow 5,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 2... Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 4,Donbass Donetsk 3... Spartak took apart Lokomotiv in a lackluster effort,of a game... Lokomotiv and Donbass traded goals in a tightly fought game;it was like the last team that had the puck on their sticks won the game...

commentary...

the game last night was the worst game that i have seen,in years... i have seen the Red Wings get crushed in games in the past(example:pounded by Columbus Blue Jackets,8-0,and then within days by Nashville Predators,8-2,in 2008,i believe),but to be steamrolled by the St. Louis Blues,6-0,opening night,was almost a new low,because they had no willpower to fight,and they had the fewest shots,through two periods(7),since they played a game,against Calgary(6),in 1989,almost 24 years ago... fans should be upset,and to use a lack of training camp,or preseason games,as an excuse,is horse manure... when goaltender Jimmy Howard was the bright spot,in that game,and he got hung out to dry,for five of the six goals,and was pulled early,in the third period,you know that the Red Wings were roadkill,and they played like they simply did not care,at all... to have three breakaways/breakdowns,on defense,for easy goals;be one for five on penalty kill,and then have a shorthanded goal scored on the Red Wings,on top of that,the Red Wings looked like the worst team in the NHL,WITHOUT A DOUBT,makes the Red Wings' fans think,"why did they come back off vacation,to look like roadkill"... luckily,for the Red Wings,it is only game one,of a forty eight game sprint,but unfortunately,they NEVER got started,last night,and the simple fact that they have to realize that they can not use the lamest excuse of a short training camp,and if they start to do that,they are a team without a rudder,and deserve to be pounded on again and again,because there were teams who allowed more goals last night(Vancouver Canucks:7),but the Red Wings did not score a goal,and did not even get a sniff,and the Blues got the easiest two points that they will ever get,against the Red Wings,and unfortunately,for the Red Wings,they play them three more times,in the next twelve games,so they better stop being wallflowers,and WAKE UP,period...

Red Wings' game score...

St. Louis Blues 6,Red Wings 0... RED WINGS ROADKILL... commentary later...

commentary...

every pundit picks the Red Wings to be in playoffs,even one picks them to win the Western Conference... lonely soul,i admit... the Red Wings could win the Central Division,but also could miss the Stanley Cup playoffs,for the first time,in 22 years,because the back end talent is very inexperienced,young,but talented... the goaltending tandem is very good,but the Red Wings' firepower will be slow to start,because of inexperience,and losing three major stars,to free agency,and retirement... it will be an interesting sprint,to the finish;season being 48 games... drop the puck,and the best team will win...

commentary...

this is to reply to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman:you have presided over not one lockout,not two,but three lockouts,and a players' strike,and three franchises to move[the original Winnipeg Jets,to Phoenix,after telling the fans that you would not allow the franchise to move],and to Denver from Quebec City,Quebec,along with a franchise from Hartford Connecticut,to the Carolinas... my respect for you is lower than pond scum,and you say,and apologize to the true fans,that you cared for what they suffered through:three lockouts,and a players' strike,in about twenty years,and two lockouts in eight years-one that wiped out an entire season(the only time that a pro sports league wiped out an entire season),and you apologize to the true fans,in a form letter,in newspapers across North America-how tacky,crude,and gutless of the NHL... i bought the hockey package,from NBC Comcast(at a discount,thank you for nothing),this season,but nothing else will i buy,because i feel royally screwed by the NHL,NHLPA,and even the players,because i simply feel that millionaires fighting other millionaires over a $3.3 B revenue pie that is the NHL was not necessary,and simply disgusting,and it lasted 113 days,and Gary,that really sucks,period... personally,go away until next season,and maybe my anger will subside,and by the way,to the NHL,NHLPA,and to the players,i simply give you all an one finger salute... that gesture was for the true fans,in sympathy...

comment...

NHL hockey starts tomorrow... love the sport,but the business side really sucks!!!!!!!

comments...

i am a Red Wings' fan,almost hardcore,in that,but i hate to say that the loss of retired stars(Nicklas Lidstrom,Tomas Holmstrom),and a free agent signing,to San Jose(Brad Stuart)will hurt the Red Wings,overall,but the young inexperienced core,minus Pavel Datsyuk,and new captain Henrik Zetterberg,may help,but expect goaltender Jimmy Howard to shine,and the Red Wings may have the best tandem in the net,but they will struggle to score,at times,and yet,they have talent to make the Stanley Cup playoffs,this season... i will talk about the Central Division later,this weekend...

commentary...

it seems the NHL is apologizing to its fans for the length of the 113 day NHL lockout,and the missed games,in newspaper advertisements throughout the nation,and other countries... to the NHL,i say,"pox on your houses",because the NHL,NHLPA,and the players royally screwed the fans,in this unnecessary lockout,period...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings name Henrik Zetterberg captain...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 3,Severstal Cherepovets 2,shootout win...

blog statement...

i am taking an one day break,from this blog,and mentally preparing for the 2013 NHL season...

KHL All Star game...

East 18,West 11...

Sharks-Red Wings games...

the Sharks play the Red Wings three times this season:February 28th,and March 28th,in San Jose,and April 11th,in Detroit...

NHL news...

NHLPA ratified the new collective bargaining agreement(CBA)...

hockey news...

NHLPA have finished voting on the the new collective bargaining agreement(CBA),but results have not been released,and will be later today... NHL and NHLPA need to sign a memorandum of understanding... if that is signed today,training camp will start tomorrow,and season will start January 19th,2013...

NHL news...

Anaheim Ducks hired four time Stanley Cup winner Scott Niedermayer,as an assistant coach...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Severstal Cherepovets 3,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 1... it was a tightly fought game,with an empty net goal deciding the final result...

Red Wings' news...

Pavel Datysuk,of the Red Wings,will play in the KHL All-Star Game,in Chelyabinsk Russia,on January 13th,2013,two hours from his hometown,of Yekatinburg,and should be back in Detroit,as soon as possible,after the game... i guess that Detroit Red Wings' general manager would allow him to do it,because it is near his hometown... training camp opens up,for the Red Wings,on the 13th,according to a report,in the Detroit News...

NHL Breaking News...

the NHL Board of Governors ratified the new collective bargaining agreement(CBA);the first step in completing the official end of the NHL lockout... the second step is the NHLPA's ratification of the new collective bargaining agreement(CBA),which is expected Saturday... the new NHL schedule will be put out,at the same time,as the players' ratification,of the new collective bargaining agreement(CBA)...

getting ready for season...

there is a lull in hockey right now,because the NHL has a lot to do,coming up with a new schedule,for all thirty teams,along with training camps(for what it is worth),and both the players,and owners voting on the new collective bargaining agreement(CBA),and getting ready for a 48 game sprint,to the finish... the NHL owners are voting today on the collective bargaining agreement,and the players will vote shortly on that,too... they estimate the start of the 2013 NHL season,to be January 19th,and even NBC/COMCAST is selling NHL Center Ice,stating that,from January 16th,to April 13th,they are selling it at a discount price,so they are ramping up the season,quickly...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 4,Dinamo Minsk 1...

commentary...

since the NHL lockout is over that cost at least a half-season,and a lot of hard and hurt feelings,in terms of the fans that felt like they honestly did not care a flying whit about them... fans,me included,will have to decide if NHL hockey is worth the heartbreak and hassle,of getting re-engaged in the game of hockey... most will come back,but the NHL/NHLPA played roulette of a kind that is dangerous to play... it will be interesting to see how the fans react to the opening of the 2013 NHL season,as for me,i have not decided what to do,or how to react... in one way,i am happy that NHL hockey is back,but i am still very upset,and rather pissed off about the stinking lousy lockout that took 113 days to settle,and that will linger for quite a while,i am afraid to admit,folks...

classy tribute...

after the 6-5 overtime victory,for Team Russia,over Canada,for the bronze medal,in the 2013 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships,Nail Yakupov,of the Edmonton Oilers,paraded around the rink in Ufa,Russia,with a Lokomotiv Jaroslavl flag,remembering the victims,of the plane crash,on 7 Septembre 2011... there was not a dry eye,in the arena...

KHL hockey scores,and a gorgeous shootout goal...

even though the NHL lockout appears over,i will still report on the KHL games that Lokomotiv Jaroslavl play... as a sign that the lockout may be over,Pavel Datsyuk,of the Detroit Red Wings,and Zdeno Chara,of the Boston Bruins,have said their goodbyes to their KHL clubs... by the way,Datsyuk scored on a gorgeous shootout goal,as CSKA Moscow beat Traktor Chelyabinsk,3-2,in a shootout... he also tied game at two,with a goal,with 2:36 left,in third period... as for the Train,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl beat Vityaz Chekhov,2-1....

happy days are here again,it appears...

after one hundred thirteen days,it does appear that the NHL lockout is over... details forthcoming...

IIHF World Hockey Championships...

Team USA 3,Team Sweden 1... Rocco Grimaldi scored two second period goals,as Team USA captured their third IIHF World Junior Hockey gold medal,in Ufa,Russia... Team Sweden was the defending World Champion,so it was not a fluke...

LOCKOUT:DAY ONE HUNDRED TWELVE...

NHL news...

NHL and NHLPA met separately with a federal mediator,from the Federal Mediation,and Conciliation Services,today,to discuss aspects of the collective bargaining agreement(CBA)negotiations,with the NHL...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

SKA St. Petersburg 4,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 0... Ilya Kovalchuk,of the New Jersey Devils,scored a goal,as SKA St. Peterburg scored two goals apiece,in the last two periods,and they shut out Lokomotiv Jaroslavl...

LOCKOUT:DAY ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN...

blog statement...

someone asked me why i do not give up on my countdown on the lockout,because the 2013 NHL season is over(his words)... the reason is simple:true hockey fans love hockey,and the NHL lockout will not end,until they sign a new collective bargaining agreement(CBA),EVEN if they cancel the 2013 NHL season,so i do not forget that fact,because i am a true fan of the beautiful game of hockey... if i lived near the Canadian border,or in Canada,i would watch kids play the game on a crystal sheet of ice,outside,so i am really a real hardcore fan,and i am very upset,period... true fans of the game never will forget that the NHL royally screwed the fans,period,so live with it....

LOCKOUT:DAY ONE HUNDRED TEN...

a fan's discontent,too many parts of this speech to count...

the ongoing NHL/NHLPA lockout collective bargaining agreement(CBA)negotiations seem to make me upset,because both sides have said that they both want to salvage the 2013 NHL season,but they need to get CBA done,by January 11th(as the NHL says),to get a 48 game season started by January 19th,but honestly i do not know what to say,and yet,why was it not done before the 2011-2012 NHL playoffs started... there are a boatload of hardcore fans,me included,who honestly feel like the fans got royally screwed,not the NHL,or the NHLPA,or even the players,who get paid no matter what happens... what greedy scumbags;the whole lot of them,period!!!!!! i am sorry,but i am very,very,very upset,because the fans got royally screwed,not to even mention the cities,and businesses who lost a ton of money,including some businesses that simply went out of business,period,including the people who worked at the arenas,who also lost money... the NHL,NHLPA,and the players all say that they honestly care about the fans... to the hardcore fan,that sounds hollow,and actions also show that they simply do not,and did not care a flying whit,about the fans,and the simple fact of a more than one hundred day lockout says a great deal about their true feelings,so,to the NHL,NHLPA,and players,who honestly cares about your feelings,or your obscenely fat pocketbook??? to the hardcore fan of the game,me included,the fan says,who cares!!!!!!!!!!!

LOCKOUT:DAY ONE HUNDRED AND NINE...

NHL news...

NHL/NHLPA resume negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement,today...

HAPPY NEW YEAR...

LOCKOUT:DAY ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT...