correction...

oops,Jonathan Toews had only one goal for the Blackhawks,today... Nick Leddy had last goal for the Blackhawks,in a real laugher against the Red Wings,today... during a 7-1 rout,you tend to lose focus with who scored,and just look at the final score... what a stinker of the game...

stinkbomb in Detroit...

Blackhawks 7,Red Wings 1... a total stinkbomb of a game... nothing went right for Red Wings... to tell you how bad the game was:player of the game for the Red Wings would be Pavel Datsyuk for two crunching hits on Jonathan Toews,who scored two goals,along with Dave Bolland,who had two goals(Kindl's own goal was credited to him)... twenty year old rookie Brandon Saad also scored two goals for the Blackhawks,and rookie Jeremy Morin scored his first goal of the year to open up the scoring,and onslaught,for the Blackhawks....

Red Wings' game in progress

the Blackhawks scored three goals,in 1:39,apart,in the first period... the third goal was an own goal on Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard,by Jakub Kindl,as Kindl tried to put the puck behind the goal,but put it in the goal,behind Howard,instead,then the Blackhawks scored twice in eight seconds(the first goal was on Howard),in second period,even after the Red Wings had pulled Jimmy Howard,they scored on first shot on Jonas Gustavsson... funny thing is that the Red Wings have simply hung Howard out to dry:he gave up first two goals on first two Blackhawks' shots,then Kindl's goofup... you could tell that it was not the Red Wings' day,after that... to tell you how bad the game is:the third period just started:Blackhawks 5,Red Wings 0... more later...

Happy Birthday,"Mr. Hockey"...

Happy Birthday:"Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe... he turns 85,today...

Red Wings' news...

Chicago Blackhawks/Red Wings,today...

comments...

as of right now,before the Western Conference games that are on tap this afternoon,the Red Wings are sixth,and the San Jose Sharks seventh,in the conference... the Red Wings are second in the Central Division,behind the Chicago Blackhawks,and the Sharks are third in the Pacific Division,behind the Anaheim Ducks,and the Los Angeles Kings...

Red Wings' news...

many reports indicate that the Red Wings have signed the top college free agent Dan DeKeyser... the 6'3" 200 pound DeKeyser was courted by just almost every NHL team... he signed a two year,two way,entry-level contract... terms are not available... DeKeyser went to college at Western Michigan University...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Sharks 2,Red Wings 0... playoff-type intensity throughout game... rough and tumble game... only one penalty,on Sharks,called the entire game... a puck off Niklas Kronwall's left skate,1:01,left,in the first period(Joe Pavelski) careemed into goaL,behind Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard,and a defensive mistake,right in front of Howard,two minutes,and seven seconds,into third period,led to a goal,by Brent Burns,to close out scoring... Sharks' goaltender Antti Niemi notched his second shutout in the last two days... round three:Detroit,April 11th:season series tied at one... simply a very good game... the referees simply let them bang on one another,all night... enjoyable game...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/San Jose Sharks,tonight...

commentary...

as i look at the Western Conference,there are two games that i have interest in:both involve the San Jose Sharks... they play the Anaheim Ducks,today,in the second game,of a home and home series,and then a game,against the Red Wings... they beat Anaheim,5-3,two days ago,in Anaheim... a great win,i have to admit,but i have to point out that San Jose is 7-11-6,in the last twenty four games,after a 7-0-0 start,so is San Jose waking up after a slump,or is it only one great game... they have two tough games,in the next two days,against Anaheim,and Detroit,and i have to admit the Red Wings are on a roll,winning five road games in a row,and many other things(eight straight games with a power play goal,for example)... San Jose,in my opinion,needs three,out of a possible four points,to stay in eighth place,in the conference,because they are playing two teams ahead of them,in the conference standings,and with five teams right behind them(Nashville,tied with them in ninth,with Dallas and Columbus one point behind them,in tenth,and eleventh,with Edmonton,three points behind them,and even Phoenix,who is four points,behind the Sharks,in thirteenth),so if they slip,they get stampeded... simply said they need to win games to get into the playoffs,and if they do not,they are toast...

commentary...

the game last night,against the Phoenix Coyotes,was a study,on how the Red Wings would fare,in the second game of a back to back series of games,and the third game,in four days,against a team that had lost,i believe,five games,in a row,in the Coyotes... the game went back and forth,with Detroit leading,1-0,then trailing 2-1,and then tying the game in the last minute of the second period,at two,going into the third period,when Johan Franzen slapped puck past Coyotes' goaltender Jason LaBarbara,on an one-timer,right in front of goal(on their first power play goal,of two),in between the circles,then early in the third period,Pavel Datsyuk slapped in a tap-in,over Labarbara... Red Wings' goaltender Jonas Gustavsson made some spectacular saves in the third period,and actually gave the Red Wings a chance to be in the game early,because Phoenix pressured the Red Wings peppering Gustavsson with shots,while the Red Wings were getting their rhythm,when Ian White scored for the Red Wings first,then Phoenix scored twice,once on the power play,in 4:21,to lead 2-1,after one period,and they held on the lead until the last minute,when Franzen got loose... Keith Hanzal(on a Coyotes' power play)and Rob Klinkhammer scored the goals,for the Coyotes,in the first period,then the Red Wings clamped down with very good defense,along with great saves by Gustavsson,in the third period... Red Wings have won five straight road games,have a streak of eight straight games,with a power play goal,and six straight road games,with a power play goal,so the Red Wings are very hot....

more about that night...

sorry,i forget to mention that on March 26,1997,the Red Wings beat the Avalanche,6-5,39 seconds into overtime,with a goal by guess who??? Darren McCarty... besides the main melee between the teams,there were a total of nine fights,that night... it is called,in Detroit,"Fight Night At the Joe",affectionately... McCarty also fought Adam Deadmarsh later on,in the night... after the main melee,there was blood visible on the ice,until the Zambonis scraped the ice,in between periods...

anniversary of a great night,in Detroit...

today is an anniversary of sorts,for the Red Wings:sixteen years ago,Darren McCarty whipped Claude Lemieux,starting a brawl that involved both teams,and ignited the bad blood between the two teams,that honestly lasted for years... the bad blood stemmed from a hit,by Lemieux,on Kris Draper,that broke his nose,cheekbone,and orbital bone,in his face,when he blasted into a stanchion,and glass,during the 1996 Western Conference Finals... the Avalanche won series,4 games to 2 games,and won the Stanley Cup,after beating the Florida Panthers,i believe,in a sweep,in the Stanley Cup Finals,that year... side notes:on November 11,1997,round two happened between McCarty and Lemieux,this time both threw punches,at each other,and on April Fools Day(April 1st),1998,at Joe Louis Arena,and in front of a national television audience,including me,Avalanche goaltender,Patrick Roy,and Red Wings' goaltender Chris Osgood fought at center ice... both were ejected,and that game had 46 penalties,for 228 penalty minutes... way to go,Darren!!!!!!!!!

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 3,Coyotes 2... commentary,tomorrow morning...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Phoenix Coyotes,tonight...

commentary...

in the last two games,against the Anaheim Ducks,(both wins:5-1,and 2-1):Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard stopped sixty six,of sixty eight shots(a .971 save percentage)... Anaheim had won thirteen straight games at home,but did not get a single point this weekend,losing both games,and only Teemu Selanne(first game),and Ryan Getzlaf(second game)dented Howard all weekend,with pucks behind him... i talked about earlier about the road power play being DOA most of the season,for the Red Wings,but right now,the Red Wings have scored a power play goal in last five road games,and overall,they have scored a power play goal,in the last seven games... before you get too excited,the Red Wings have been inconsistent on offense,most of this season,but honestly,beating the second best team in the Western Conference,twice,may give the Red Wings a much needed boost,and confidence in playing the top teams,in the NHL,so it will be interesting for the Red Wings,and the rest of their NHL schedule... just watch out,NHL...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 2,Ducks 1... commentary,tomorrow morning...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Ducks,tonight...

blog statement

taking day off from blogging... feel fine,but am tired...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 5,Anaheim Ducks 1... Red Wings snap Ducks' thirteen game home winning streak,as Justin Abdelkader netted a hat trick,with an assist,added in for a four point night... Pavel Datsyuk added a goal,and two assists,for a three point night,along with Johan Franzen,who had two assists,and a goal(a three point night,too) that went off the stick of the Ducks' Emerson Etem,past Jonas Hiller,who came in for a pulled Viktor Fasth,who came up three goals in eleven shots,before being pulled... Teemu Selanne scored a beautiful goal,for the Ducks,to open up the scoring,but the Ducks played like they were sleepwalking through the game,and then there were three fights,but the energy was not in the building,tonight... ROUND TWO:SUNDAY...

commentary...

the Red Wings have had a very inconsistent season,so far,after thirty games played,playing sometimes like world beaters,and then looking like puffballs... i will give you examples of each:opening night,against the St. Louis Blues,losing 6-0,and allowing three breakaways for goals,turning puck over,like the Washington Generals,against the Harlem Globetrotters,and then later on,losing 3-0,to the Columbus Blue Jackets,on a night that they sleepwalked through the game,and now the other examples of great wins,both against the Vancouver Canucks:a 8-3 massacre that was so dominating,that there were many players,who had multiple point games,in same game,and then a 5-1 stomping,in which Vancouver scored six seconds into game,and then Detroit clamped down so well,that Jimmy Howard looked like he had day off,and he was in goal,that night... most of the season,the team defense,and goaltending,has been very good,overall,but the offense has struggling,especially the power play on the road,in which they started zero for their first thirty seven,extending into their eleventh game,on the road(Valtteri Filppula finally ended that streak)... Jimmy Howard,their first string goaltender,has very good overall numbers(goals against average(G.A.A.),and save percentage)... he has been team M.V.P.,so far,if i had to vote on that...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Anaheim Ducks,tonight... first of a rare doubleheader,of two games,during this weekend(outside a playoff series)... they play again,in Anaheim,Sunday afternoon...

blog statement...

i will have an analysis of the Red Wings first thirty games played,tomorrow...

commentary...

honestly,if i hammer San Jose for their less than stellar play,lately,then i have to applaud,and give a hat tip,for how they fought themselves into an improbable win,against the Edmonton Oilers,in a shootout,because they showed the guts that i honestly thought they had,at the beginning of the 2013 NHL season... that is the team that i honestly did have talent to contend for the Stanley Cup... for one night,i tip my hat to you... i am being a true hockey fan,when i say that...

correction...

OOPS!!!!!!! the Red Wings have a four game road trip,and do play the Chicago Blackhawks,on March 31st,2013,at Joe Louis Arena... brain freeze,i admit...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Wild 4,Red Wings 2... Red Wings' goaltender,Jimmy Howard really sucked in goal,and Devin Setoguchi,for the Wild had two goals... it was the first victory,in regulation,for the Wild,in Detroit,since 2006.. in the first period,referees disallowed goal,for the Red Wings,when Drew Miller deflected puck with high stick,but puck hit Minnesota Wild forward Dany Heatley's glove,as Heatley punched puck into net... the referees actually blew the call on the goal,when referees waved the goal without reviewing it with Toronto's "War Room"... the referee just jumped the gun on the call,thinking that Miller had hit puck into net,and yet replays showed the puck was hit in by Heatley... actually,it would have tied game,at one,at the time,but honestly,Minnesota out-played the Red Wings,i have to admit,period...

Happy Birthday,Bobby...

NHL Hall of Fame member,and Boston Bruins' legend Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr turned 65 years young,today...

Red Wings' news...

Minnesota Wild/Red Wings,tonight... last home game of the month of March,and five game road trip,to end month,including game,against San Jose Sharks,on March 28th,2013...

NHL news...

Corey Perry,and the Anaheim Ducks agree on a eight year contract extension,worth $69 million...

another bad outing for the Sharks...

Anaheim Ducks 5,San Jose Sharks 3... Sharks fell behind 4-1,midway through the game,and the Ducks hung on for 5-3 win... the defense around the Sharks' net,and goaltending was sub-par,giving up four goals(fifth goal was an empty net goal)... they keep saying that they need to tighten up their overall defense,and to give up five goals,to Anaheim,and ten goals in the last two games-they gave up five goals,to the Los Angeles Kings,Saturday night... i honestly can not figure why San Jose is struggling,because they really do have talent... the overall goaltending,by the Sharks,has been very shoddy,and without improvement,they may make the playoffs,but one round and out,they will go... San Jose is one of the most disappointing teams,in the NHL,and honestly,they should not be that disappointing,period...

injury update...

Red Wings' Kyle Quincey will be out four to six weeks,when a puck ramped up his stick when he tried to deflect it,during the game,against Edmonton Oilers... the puck fractured his face,in multiple places,and surgery will be next week... my opinion:i feel bad for him...

NHL news...

in their "power 16" team power ranking,NHL.com ranks the Anaheim Ducks,number one,ahead of the the number two Chicago Blackhawks;Detroit Red Wings are ranked tenth after road wins,in Edmonton,and Vancouver...

commentary...

after a Vancouver goal six seconds into game(second fastest goal in NHL history,to start a game,but too many teams have scored a goal,in five second,to count),the Red Wings played a near perfect defensive,and offensive game,against Vancouver,and the defensive star was goaltender Jimmy Howard,who was a real stud in net,making spectacular save after save,in the first two periods,while the Red Wings smothered Vancouver shots,and turned turnovers into chances to score,until Red Wings took over the last half of the game,as the Red Wings scored 13:57,into the second period,to take a 2-1 lead,then scored three goals,in 14:44,of third period game time(scored five straight goals,as matter of fact)... Justin Abdelkader,and Henrik Zetterberg scored two goals,apiece,and Pavel Datsyuk had three assists... Abdelkader scored his goals off his skate blade/toe(his first)and off his chest,rushing to the net(his second),both off passes from Datsyuk,not the prettiest goals on the ice,but both counted... in the two games,against the Red Wings,Canucks' goaltender Roberto Luongo has a save percentage of .759,and a goals against average(G.A.A.),of 6.50,what great numbers(laughing)...

Red Wings' schedule...

the Red Wings' next three games are against two teams:the Minnesota Wild,on next Wednesday,and in a very rare occurrence,they play twice,in Anaheim,on next Friday,and next Sunday...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 5,Canucks 2... commentary,tomorrow morning...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Vancouver Canucks,tonight...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 3,Oilers 2,overtime... Pavel Datsyuk played a heck of a game,and scored game winning goal,in overtime... in last twenty six games,against the Oilers,the Red Wings are 18-1-7... the Oilers had a 2-0 lead,after two periods,and the Red Wings looked DOA-they were working hard,hit two off the pipes,behind Devan Dubnyk,of the Oilers,and if you could have luck,it was all bad,for the Red Wings,in the first two periods,and yet,the Red Wings came back,in third period,with goals by Valtteri Flippula,and Niklas Kronwall(the goal by Kronwall,was an own goal,by the Oilers,through the legs of Dubnyk(five hole)... Datsyuk made the Oilers look silly all night long,with moves with the puck that were spectacular,to say the least... Taylor Hall and Sam Gagner scored in the first,and second periods,respectively,for the Oilers,and Jimmy Howard kept the Red Wings in the game early,until the Red Wings erupted in the third period,and overtime...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Edmonton Oilers,tonight... score will be posted,but commentary will be tomorrow morning,because of fatigue......

next year's divisional games for the Red Wings,and the Sharks...

the Red Wings are in a new division next year,with the Montreal Canadians,Toronto Maple Leafs,Boston Bruins,Ottawa Senators,Florida Panthers Tampa Bay Lightning,and Buffalo Sabres... new teams to learn to "hate"... i already "hate" them... in fact,i am watching their games,in preparation for next year... the Sharks are in a new division next year with the Anaheim Ducks,Phoenix Coyotes,Los Angeles Kings,Calgary Flames,Edmonton Oilers,and Vancouver Canucks...

Breaking News...

NHL Board of Governors approve conference,and divisional realignment,starting next season... more on that later...

game score,and comments...

Flames 5,Red Wings 2... three goals in 4:23,of the third period,doomed the Red Wings,tonight... i wish i could say that the Red Wings played well,but they stunk up the Saddledome,in third period,and basically gave game,and two points,to the worst team,in the Western Conference... four goals went in,because of putrid team defense,and one went in the goal off a Red Wings player's skate... worst game on defense,since opening night...

NHL news...

Corey Perry,of the Anaheim Ducks,has been suspended four games,by the NHL,for an illegal check on Jason Zucker,of the Minnesota Wild...

commentary...

for the San Jose Sharks' fan in my family,they are 2-3-1,in the month of March,3-4-3,in the last ten games,fourth place in the Pacific Division,and thirteen points behind the Anaheim Ducks,and besides the Ducks,the other four teams in that division are within four points of each other,so it will be a dogfight,in that division... before you think that i am beating up on the Sharks,the Central Division is basically identical to what is happening to the Pacific Division:Chicago has a fifteen point lead on everybody in the Central Division,and the other four teams are in a group who are five points between all the teams(St. Louis:30 points,Detroit:29 points,Nashville:28 points,and even Columbus,who beat Detroit four games to one(an overtime loss)getting nine points of a possible ten points,against the Red Wings,with 25 points),so both divisions are a dogfight... history:when the Red Wings won Stanley Cup,in 2008,they had trouble with only one team in their division,and that was the Chicago Blackhawks,who won five crazy games(out of eight games)that year,so having trouble beating one team in a division is not uncommon,but it may come back to really bite the Red Wings,pending on how they finish the season...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings/Calgary Flames,tonight... first game of a Western Canadian road trip...

commentary...

to SI(Sports Illustrated),if you read the cover of the recent issue,you may believe that the Chicago Blackhawks brought hockey back from the dead... the cover says,"the Franchise that brought hockey back from the dead" is a total puff piece,for the Blackhawks... even though,Chicago went 30 games,with,at least,getting a point after the game,which is second in NHL history,behind the 1979-1980 Philadelphia Flyers' 35 game unbeaten streak(25 wins,and 10 ties),is very impressive,it is stupid to hype one team over the rest... the fact that the NHL is coming off a 113 day lockout,(this is my opinion),to belittle the rest of the NHL,and hype the Blackhawks over all 30 NHL teams,when there are different top stories,example:the amazing Anaheim Ducks,whose season is almost as good as the Blackhawks,or the fact that the Washington Capitals,and the Calgary Flames,are not having their best seasons(Calgary being near the bottom,in Western Conference),or the Los Angeles Kings playing well,finally,after a miserable start to the 2013 NHL season,or the NHL divisional,and conference realignment(pending on the NHL Board of Governors' vote),for next season... i know that Chicago's season has been very good,but SI,why not talk about the entire NHL,when there are many stories that may interest the general public,but you,SI,are basically a rag of bad journalism,after that clap-trap manure of a piece on the Blackhawks... way to go,SI!!!!! a Pultizer for you guys is in the offing(laughing,heartily)...

NHL news...

the "power 16",on NHL.com does not have the Chicago Blackhawks on top of their team power rankings,it is the Anaheim Ducks who are on top,right now... as i type,Chicago has lost two straight games in regulation,and that may be the biggest factor in shifting the top two teams... Red Wings are 13th,in same power poll...

commentary...

there is a lull in the Red Wings' season,as they go to Western Canada,for the first time of two times,in the next 22 games,when they go on the road,for fourteen of the last twenty two games... they are fourth in the Western Conference,and will get Valtteri Flippula,and Darren Helm back in the next couple weeks,from injury,which should help them down the home stretch,of the 48 game season... honestly,if they get into the Stanley Cup playoffs,and also healthy,as a team,they possibly could make a team very nervous...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Blue Jackets 3,Red Wings 2,shootout... basically a lost weekend,points-wise... getting only one point,of a possible four points... sloppy game,and bad ice,for both teams... Henrik Zetterberg,and Pavel Datsyuk have gone ice cold offensively,even though Datsyuk did score a shootout goal,which does not count in stats,for the season... the Blue Jackets out-played,and out-fought the Red Wings the entire weekend... the lousy ice surface caused by mild weather,in Detroit,caused the puck to stick to the ice,on many occasions,for both teams(over-skating the puck)led directly to second goal,by the Blue Jackets,when three Red Wings' players had chance to clear the puck,and then R.J. Umberger put the puck past Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard,as he relaxed,thinking the puck would be cleared... Jakub Kindl,and Johan Franzen scored for the Red Wings(Franzen in third period,on a two man advantage power play,early in third period),and Derick Brassard,and Umberger scored for the Blue Jackets,in regulation... Ryan Johansen,and Matt Calvert both made Howard look like a rookie just called from Grand Rapids,on both their stunningly beautiful dekes,and goals,in the shootout... the Blue Jackets,and the Red Wings,did have some offense in the second period,scoring three goals in 1:15,early in second period(Blue Jackets,then Red Wings,30 seconds later,and finally the Blue Jackets scored 45 seconds after that),to take a 2-1 lead into third period,but the Red Wings were on a two man advantage,at the end of the second period,and then Franzen roofed a chip shot,over Blue Jackets' goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky,to tie game,at two,then a very sloppy,because of the bad ice surface,and physical game ensued until shootout... NOT THE PRETTIEST GAME ON ICE...

comments...

interesting game,in Detroit... better game in Motown,between Blue Jackets,and Red Wings,today... is in third period...

Red Wings' news...

Columbus Blue Jackets/Red Wings,today... second game of weekend home and home series,Red Wings better wake up from their sleepwalking act,yesterday...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Columbus Blue Jackets 3,Red Wings 0... an error prone,and luckluster game,and effort... two turnovers behind the Red Wings' net led directly to the first and third goals(the third goal was a shorthanded goal,by the Blue Jackets),and the game was really a snoozefest... no energy by the Red Wings throughout the game,and they did absolutely nothing offensive,and simply was offensive,as a team,today...

correction,and comments...

the Blackhawks,so far,have lost only one game in regulation-a 6-2 loss to Colorado,tonight... sorry folks i corrected the erroneous fact that i accidentally said that the Blackhawks have lost an one goal game,in regulation... they have not lost an one goal game,in regulation,but they got hammered by the Avalanche,tonight... the funny thing remains:if the season was 82 games,and not 48 games,like this season,would the 30 game point streak just broken,be as impressive as it seems,to the pundits... it would be impressive,but honestly the fact that the season was cut short,by the 113 day NHL lockout,to 48 games would darken the record somewhat,because the schedule does not reflect the real depth,of the NHL...

commentary...

now for reality to set in,for Chicago Blackhawks' fans... before you crown the team Stanley Cup Champions,let me remind you of three teams that did not win the Stanley Cup,after spectacular regular seasons:the 1993-1994 Red Wings,who won the Central Division,and was the Western Conference's best team-record wise,and got beaten by the San Jose Sharks,in opening round,in seven games... the 1995 Detroit Red Wings(strike-shortened season) had best record in NHL,and got swept by the New Jersey Devils,in Stanley Cup Finals,and 1995-1996 Detroit Red Wings,who won a NHL- record 62 games,with a record of 62-13-7,for 131 points-second in NHL history,to Montreal Canadiens' 1976-1977 team,who had a record of 60-8-12,for 132 points... the 1995-1996 Red Wings lost in six games in the Western Conference Finals,to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche,who swept the Florida Panthers,in the Stanley Cup Finals... my point is that weird bounces of the puck,tipped passes,and other strange things always seem to happen in the two month,four tier Stanley Cup playoffs... the fact that the Blackhawks really has not played too many teams in the Eastern Conference may also come back to bite them,because there are very good teams in the Eastern Conference,and the fact that the Blackhawks who may have only lost only one game,in regulation,so far,and maybe only three games,in shootouts/overtime,but let me remind of a cruel little fact,and that fact is that in the playoffs,shootouts do not occur,and overtime goes until one team scores;let it be one second,or multiple twenty minute overtimes,and not always does the best team win...

NHL news...

Colorado Avalanche 6,Chicago Blackhawks 2... HAWKS LOSE!!!!!!!!!!! HAWKS LOSE!!!!!!!!!!!! HAWKS LOSE!!!!!!!!!!!(laughing)...

NHL news...

NHL division realignment looks like a go... it will only take the vote of the NHL Board of Governors,after the NHLPA approved it,for next season... Detroit Red Wings,and the Columbus Blue Jackets goes to the Eastern Conference,and the Winnipeg Jets goes to the Western Conference... the Eastern Conference will have two eight team divisions,including four of the Original Six teams(Boston Bruins,Detroit Red Wings,Montreal Canadiens,and Toronto Maple Leafs),all in one division,and the Western Conference will have two seven team divisions,basically a regional division realignment... winning teams on realignment:Detroit,Columbus,and Winnipeg... losing teams on realignment:the Florida Panthers,and Tampa Bay Lightning(the Florida teams)... more on that,later...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Red Wings 3,Oilers 0... Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard notched his second shutout of season,and Red Wings are 5-1-1,in last seven games,with two shutouts,both by Howard,allowing just eight goals,and Red Wings won their seventh straight game,at Joe Louis Arena,"the Joe",against the Oilers... over the last four games,the Red Wings,out of a possible eight points,have collected seven points... Jakub Kindl,Cory Emmerton,and Justin Abdelkader(his,being an empty net goal),all scored for the Red Wings... Detroit are still struggling scoring goals,but with the last four games,before tonight,being 2-1 games going either way,just means the Red Wings are getting better on defense,which is very,very good,period...

Red Wings' news...

Edmonton Oilers/Red Wings,tonight...

commentary...

the game between the Avalanche,and Red Wings,on Tuesday night was rather penalty free,and that is not normal between the two teams... i guess the basic bloodlust,and hatred,between the teams is not what it used to be,but honestly the two teams do not like each other... both teams are in transition,and the teams' history,of the mid-1990's,to mid-2000's is known,but with younger players,both teams are quicker,and skate better... Johan Franzen scored first goal on a beautiful stretch pass through two Avalanche players,from Jonathan Ericsson,and then the game winning goal,by Niklas Kronwall,went off Avalanche goaltender J.S. Giguere's skate,right into the goal... bad break,for Giguere,but the Red Wings have worked very hard to improve their overall team defense,over the last ten games,and breaks go for hard-working teams,most of the time... Paul Stasny scored a goal,with 1:30 left in the third period,and the Avalanche buzzed around Red Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard,but Howard stood tall,and would not let the Avalanche tie game,with a last-minute goal...

injury update...

doctors say that the facial injury that Marc Staal,of the New York Rangers suffered improved significantly,but is out indefinitely... he was looked at by an ophthalogist,and maxillofacial surgeon,and that is good... hope he recovers fully,as they say...

sorry,folks...

sorry,folks... it has been a very long day for me,and to do commentaries on here well,i need a lot of sleep,tonight... so commentary for the Red Wings/Colorado Avalanche game on Tuesday will be noted here on Thursday morning,and Edmonton Oilers play Detroit,on Thursday,and both games will be commented on here,hopefully,tomorrow night...

injury report...

Marc Staal,of the New York Rangers,got hit right above the right eye,with a puck,deflected from a Flyers' player's stick,during the Philadelphia Flyers/New York Rangers game last night... i know that i am a hardcore hockey fan,but to be hit in the face,by a puck,and/or a hockey stick is a dangerous thing... visors should be mandatory,in the NHL,or grandfathered into the League to prevent such injuries... i remember Bryan Berard,a rising star on the Toronto Maple Leafs,literally having his eye sliced open,by a stick,years ago,in one of the most gruesome injuries,that i have ever seen in pro sports... he later returned to the NHL,but was never the same player again... so i pray and hope Marc does not lose his sight,which is much more important than playing hockey...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 2,Avalanche 1... commentary tomorrow morning...

NHL news...

Colorado Avalanche/Red Wings,tonight...

respect to Chicago,ugh!!!!!

i have to give the Chicago Blackhawks much credit... they are a team who are red hot,and somewhat lucky,but i hate,really hate,to admit that,right now,they are a team who are working harder than anybody,getting more lucky chances,and bounces to extend this unbelievable streak,of 28 games,without a regulation loss,tied with the 1977-1978 Montreal Canadiens,for second on the unbeaten streak list,in NHL history,behind only 1979-1980 Philadelphia Flyers,who had an unbeaten streak,of 35 games(25 wins,and 10 ties)... the Blackhawks have a current streak of 22 games,of getting a point,starting from the start of the 2013 NHL season,which is also a NHL record...

correction,and noting NHL history...

the 28 game streak,without a regulation loss,by the Montreal Canadiens,was done in the 1977-1978 season... what threw me for a loop,was the fact that both years,Montreal had simply great teams:record in 1976-1977,the Canadiens were 60-8-12,second best number of wins in NHL season,to the 1995-1996 Detroit Red Wings,who had 62 wins that season... in 1975-1976 through 1978-1979,Montreal won 229 games lost,only,46 games,and had 45 ties,and won four straight Stanley Cups... the 1976-1977 Montreal Canadiens,and the 1995-1996 Red Wings,are one and two with most points ever in one season:Montreal,132 points,and the Red Wings had 131 points,with a record of 62-13-7,in 1995-1996...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary...

Chicago Blackhawks 2,Red Wings 1,shootout win... i could really complain about the last two minutes in regulation,because the Red Wings shot themselves in the foot,with back to back delay of game penalties(tossing puck into crowd,without tip of puck,by opponent),but honestly,i will not complain,because it was a very good game... the first penalty tied game,at one,with Patrick Kane roofing a puck past Red Wings' goaltender,Jimmy Howard,and then less than a minute later,Johan Franzen,for the Red Wings,rang a puck off the goalpost,behind the Blackhawks' goaltender Corey Crawford,and then Patrick Kane,again,scored only shootout goal,to win game... the Blackhawks have gone 28 games without a regulation loss,tied with the 1976-1977 Montreal Canadiens,only behind the 35 game streak,of the 1979-1980 Philadelphia Flyers,without a regulation loss(25 wins,and 10 ties),noted earlier,on blog

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl playoff game...

Severstal Cherepovets 3,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 1... Severstal scored twice in 1:02 of third period to break open a tight game and beat Lokomotiv... the first goal,to break an one all tie,was a penalty shot,by Evgeny Ketov,then Ketov scored an even strength goal,to ice game... Severstal wins series three games,to two games...

comments,and note on NHL history...

the Chicago Blackhawks have gotten a point in twenty seven consecutive games,going back to last season... the NHL record is owned by the 1979-1980 Philadelphia Flyers,with a streak of 35 games,with at least a point,and without a regulation loss(25 wins and 10 ties)... before they started streak,the Flyers lost,9-2,to the then Atlanta Flames,and to end the streak,they got pounded by the Minnesota North Stars,7-1... the only team in the NHL that they did not play during the streak was the Washington Capitals... the Blackhawks play the Red Wings,in Detroit,tomorrow... the Red Wings lost,in Chicago,earlier in the season,only,2-1,to the Blackhawks... expect a war,in Motown,tomorrow... they do not like each other,at all...

commentary...

for two teams who do not like one another,last night's game between the Detroit Red Wings,and the San Jose Sharks,the game itself was very clean,and rather penalty-free,which was a surprise to me... the first two periods were defensive in nature,with absolutely no scoring,and some great defense on both sides of the ice... the third period started the same way,with Logan Couture,for the Sharks,scoring on a beautiful shot just over the left leg pad,and off the glove,in behind Jonas Gustavsson,and then 1:32 later,Patrick Eaves deflected a shot by Niklas Kronwall,past Sharks' goaltender Antti Niemi... there were only three penalties called in the game,one on Jordan Tootoo,for the Red Wings,and two on Doug Murray,and Patrick Marleau,for the Sharks,who ran over the Red Wings' goaltender;all three happened in the first two periods,and even Marleau's penalty,was not that bad,because Marleau did try to leap over Gustavsson,it did appear that way to me... the Red Wings have won two shootouts,and both winning goals have been scored by Damien Brunner... note:the Red Wings have lost four games,in overtime,twice within the first forty four seconds,of overtime... i honestly believe that the Red Wings' overall defense has improved,but they are 0-33,on the power play,on the road,this season,which does suck,big time...