Monday, February 7, 2011

Pav comes back in an awesome way

In case you haven't noticed, I don't really get around to posting when The Red Wings lose. In fact, I stay as far away from the site and hockey news in general as well. My reasoning for this is this: my sanity depends on the success of The Red Wings and if they happen to lose, I'm sent into a deep, deep depression. This depression increases when hockey material of any kind enters into my life and this is why I do not post when The Wings have any kind of "stumble."

Now to the game. If The Red Wings had managed to lose this one, I don't think that I could have handled it. Two games in a row in which we were shut out had me on the brink of "rock bottom." I was worried about Jimmy and I was worried about the team as a whole. Then, we won. Now I'm feelin' great.

Out of the gate, we totally blew. We had something like two shots on goal when they had eleven or so part way into the first. Then things changed. We rocked them in the second half of the first and then to begin the second, Pav decided to try. Just a little bit. 

Some really great passing and some nice down and dirty goals.  Forwards played good D and Franzen even played pretty well in net for a little while.  Non-stars stepped up and that made the difference in this one.

Howey was a brick wall.  He made some REALLY wild saves during the game.  All over the place.   Gave up less than three goals.  Gave his team a chance to win.  Can't ask for much more.  I'm jazzed about that.

Here are the full game highlights:



The bad news for this game is this:  Fil left the game with "a lower body injury" and didn't return.  Babcock said that he caught "a little bump on his knee" and that they'd be checking him out tomorrow.  I'll update you on that one.  We need that guy.

On a final note, we might be able to expect Homer back on Wednesday (which would be sweet if Fil isn't ready to play) and we're moving ever closer to the return of Modano and Stuey.  Gettin' healthier!  Till next time -- GO WINGS!!!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Red Wings vs. Senators -- February 2, 2011 -- DET: 7 Ottawa: 5 -- FINAL


So.  Johan sored five goals against The Sens in a single game--the first time a Wings player scored five goals in a single game since Sergei Fedorov did it against The Caps in 1996.  It was a very sweet spectacle.  The bad news was that the game was actually very close.  If Johan hadn't have put in his five goal effort, we probably would have lost miserably.  We let in five goals.  We have a team that can score.  Big time.  That's why we win.  But we need to control our goals against or we are going to drop a good number of games that we could potentially win.

Now, I'm a bigger Howey supporter than most people I hear speaking about our goalie situation.  However, I'll admit that he has been shaky for a good amount of this season (he's had a lot of great moments too which people seem to forget).  That seems especially true within the last few weeks.  One has to remember that Danny Cleary and Pav have not been in the lineup to help him out in the back end.  That is surely a contributing factor in this slump situation.  Hopefully with the return of Dan (and his confidence), Howey will get some well deserved support.  Pav and Homer are on the verge of coming back and (Pasha especially) will also have a huge impact on our D.  Then, of course, we get Stuey back who is a necessity on our blue line and sometimes plays third backup goalie.  After that, Modano.  Good presence in our own zone and on D.  Finally, Ozzie who will help out our goaltending situation immensely. 

When we get completely (or even partially) healthy, I think we're going to see a drop in goals against.  I doubt we'll pick up an extra goaltender before the trade deadline.  Just a feeling.  So, then.  We'll wait until we're reasonably healthy and see if GAA goes down.  Hopefully so.

Anyway, a few days ago Johan scored five goals which was awesome.  Also, Drapes and Nick Jr. score 13 seconds apart which was quite awesome as well.  Let's watch as much as we can from that game:

First, here are the full game highlights:



And now, here's what you all want to see.  Johan's five goals:



Very cool. Now, here are the two goals in 13 seconds:



I dig that last one.  Draper is definitely contributing in the offensive realm much more than he usually does while still maintaining the normal aspects of his game.  I'm happy for him.  Nice to see him get some goals and have some fun.

Pav and Homer are aiming for this Monday as a possible return date.  Hope that works out.  Need them both in a major way (obviously).  We shall have to see what kind of impact the return of some of our best offensive players will have on our GAA.  Can't be negative.  I dig Howie and I think he's not playing shittily.  I just think he needs some more support.  He'll get that with the returning players and, eventually, Stuey who will help him wildly.  Till next time, GO WINGS!!!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Dan, not Pav

So.  Tomorrow.  Dan -- Yes.  Pav -- No.  Hmm...that's exactly the opposite of what I was expecting.  Whatever.  One back now is better than none back now. 

Apparently Dan still has a good deal of pain (or "soreness") in his foot.  Hope he's careful not to take any shots off of that ankle. 

I guess I'm glad that Pav is taking things slowly and allowing himself to fully heal before coming back.  We need him in a major way but when we get him back, we need him in for the long haul.

So here are the deets:

"Danny Cleary will return to the Red Wings' lineup Wednesday in Ottawa but Pavel Datsyuk won't. Datsyuk is pushing back his return from a fractured right hand to Friday.
'Still can't shoot 100 percent,' said Datsyuk, who hasn't played since Dec. 22. 'It bothers me a little bit. (I'm) just not ready.'
The Wings are host to Columbus Friday night.

'I hope the two days will help me,' Datsyuk said. 'I will do what I can and shoot for the next game.'

Cleary fractured his right ankle Dec. 26 in Minnesota. He was having one of his best starts (16 goals), and he is anxious to return.

'I'm excited to get back,' Cleary said. 'It's been five weeks and the ankle is getting better every day.'

The Red Wings recalled Jan Mursak from Grand Rapids, who'll replace Datsyuk in the lineup against the Senators."
-From The Detroit News

Time for Jan to step up again -- at least for one more game.  Let's all hope that Dan gets right back to those scoring ways which he displayed during the first half of his season.

**Secret Tidbit!**

An extra bit of goodness which I'd forgotten to mention is this: Stuey is back to skating with the team again!  He is wearing a big, dorkwad college-hockey mask so as to keep from offsetting his chin but he is practicing and that counts for something.  In his first full practice since his jaw was broken by an idiotic shoulder, Bert smashed him in the back and nearly killed him.  Amazingly, Stuey survived (contrary to what usually happens when Bert smashes someone in the back) and, while attending every practice, still has a couple of weeks to go (or so I'm told).

**End Secret Tidbit!**

I've got a feeling that we'll have to wait a little longer than one game for Pav to be game-ready.  Hopefully he'll come back with super-heightened grip strength.  GO WINGS!!!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Pre-All Star break report

Convincingly win the final game before the All-Star break.  What a great way to finish the first half of 2010 -- 2011.  Now the whole team can get rest and the injured players can do so without having to watch their team suffer through games in their absence. We can all look forward to the return of our sidelined players whose services have been so badly needed

First game back after the break is on February 2nd, 2011 against the Sens. Will Pav be back? I'd give him about a 75% chance of starting that game. How about Dan? There's a chance he could return on the 2nd as well. His chances? I'll give him a 40%. Regardless, we'll get them both back very soon and that will obviously be a great thing for the team.

Next will be Homer (a week or so after the end of the break), then Stuey (a few weeks after the break) and then Modano (Maybe a week or so after Stuey's return). That takes care of the skaters. We'll have to wait on Ozzy -- maybe for the rest of the regular season. Even so, getting all of our skaters back will (obviously) be big. This is a very well assembled team with mature and intelligent players and it has a great chance to go deep. A much better chance to make it all the way than last year -- especially if we can get (and stay) healthy for the end of the regular season and into the playoffs.

So, then.  No hockey for a week. I'm already itching for a game! Aren't you? Maybe in the mean time, try to find joy in the knowledge that your guys are getting some very well deserved rest which will help us out in a big way during the home stretch. Until later, GO WINGS!!!

Red Wings vs. Devils -- January 26, 2011 -- DET: 3 NJD: 1 -- FINAL

Very nice game for The Wings. Especially for the last game before the break! They now go into the ASB on a positive note. Nice goal by Darren. No mistakes. Very pretty goal by Fil from Huds and Ruslan and then FINLLY, The Mule catches a break and lights the lamp. He had about 20 scoring chances in the game before that goal. Very nice win for Howey. He made some great stops. The Devils goal was garbage and should not have been counted.  Still, Howey held them to one goal which ought to help silence his "fair weather friend" critics.  Go Howey GO!

Full game highlights:



First Red Wings goal of the game.  Great cutoff. Puts on the wheels. No mistake. Goal. Darren is definitely stepping into a scorers role as of late. Very cool.



Tic-Tac-Toe: Ruslan to Huds to Fil for the lamp-lighter -- What a pretty one.



I dig Johan's gestures and facial expression just after the goal. They say: "Finally!" He had so many scoring chances throughout the game and he just couldn't buy a break. Then, with 45 seconds left in the game, he was rewarded for his efforts. Justice. A nice cap-off for the game and for the the pre-break season!



Again, what a way to end the pre All-Star break season.  Great game.  GO WINGS!!!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Pav practices, speaks

Our dear little Pashushka participated in his first full practice with his teammates today since succumbing to a wrist injury in December.  This is what he had to say:
 
"It's a little bit stiff, but I feel every day better and stronger and more stretchable.  It's first priority, first game after All-Star break.  We'll see.  I hope and I wish."  Datsyuk (along with Danny Cleary) continues to target February 2 (against Ottawa) for his return to action.  How nice will it be to have Pasha back on the ice?  Very nice, I say.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Nabby snubbing his new club

Nabby wanted to play for Detroit so bad that he won't even speak to his new manager.  Nor will he make use of the airplane tickets which the Isles, as GM Garth Snow put it, "have waiting for him."

"Snow said when he identified himself on the phone, Nabokov immediately hung up. Snow finally talked to Nabokov on [the following day] and was told that Nabokov didn't realize who he was speaking to when abruptly ending the call.

Nabokov failed to report to the Islanders, clearly disappointed that he won't be joining the Stanley Cup-contending Red Wings. Instead he is now under contract with the Islanders, who are far out of the Eastern Conference playoff race. He was officially listed among the scratches for Sunday's game. Whether Nabokov will ever join the Islanders remains to be seen.

Islanders owner Charles Wang hinted that the Islanders aren't likely to just cut ties with Nabokov and allow him to go back on the waiver wire.

Nabokov told ESPN.com on Sunday that his decision to spurn the Islanders is not personal. He merely intended to hook on with a title-contending team and not an also-ran club such as the Islanders, who own the third-fewest points in the NHL.

'I think I'm going to stay home for now, I'm sticking with my decision,' Nabokov said Sunday. 'It's nothing against the Islanders and their organization. It's nothing to do with that. It's just that I'm at the point in my career where I want to help a team win in the playoffs. I don't see how I could help the Islanders or what I could do for them. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. And I hope they understand that. I was surprised they picked me up. I was like, 'Wow, what's the point?'

'I understand the rules,' Nabokov told ESPN.com. 'We're not stupid. We knew what was going on before we made the decision. But I made this decision because the goal was to play with Detroit.'

Snow insists he isn't angry and would still welcome Nabokov into the organization.

'It might be his anniversary, it could be his birthday, maybe he has dinner plans tonight,' Snow said. 'So if it takes until tomorrow to get him here, that's fine, too." -- from Yahoo! Sports, courtesy of The AP

I can't see how Nabby could end up in Detroit any time soon, myself.  We have a goaltending situation which needs to be taken care of relatively quickly and this Nabby/Isles situation seems to be a pretty complicated affair.  Too bad for Nabby, but we're going to have to move on.  Thomas Mccollum was just sent back to GR with a healing finger and Joey MacDonald is now backing up Howey who returned from injury against The Blues on Jan. 20th.  Ozzy is gone for the season.  Are we really going to stick with MacDonald as backup?  I somehow doubt it.  I'm going to look over our possible goaltending options and will re-post with my projections.  'Till then, snub on Nabby!