Red Wings 1 Predators 0 (OT)

Where did Johan Franzen come from? He's the hottest player in the NHL next to Ovechkin right now! I guess someone has to make up for all of Mikael Samuelsson's shortcomings. I think if I had to choose which playoff opponent the Wings had, it would be Nashville. I wouldn't have a problem with Vancouver either, but I think Luongo will be tougher in the playoffs despite his recent struggles. Colorado would be a fun series because the Avs are averaging less then a goal per game against the Wings this year, but there's something about them that makes me think they could pull of a first round upset. So bring on the Preds. It would be fun to knock these assholes out of the first round again like we did a few years ago.

FROZEN FOUR BOUND

Billy Sauer posts a big shutout + Kevin Porter scores another goal and has 5 of Michigan's 7 goals in the tournament + Sparty couldn't take care of Notre Dame = Michigan vs Notre Dame in the Frozen Four! I'm getting pumped. Bring on the Irish! Let's win it all this year!

Could It Be?

Well, the tables have turned in the NCAA tournament, and Michigan and Michigan State are each a win away from meeting each other in the frozen four. And Michigan State won't be playing the #1 seed New Hampshire either, it'll be a clash with CCHA fellow Notre Dame, who stunned New Hampshire today! As for Kevin Porter, he definitely came to play today with four goals in Michigan's 5-1 win over Niagara. The Wolverines will play Clarkson, who also pulled off an upset over St. Cloud State. Hats off to the Wolverines for being the only team to not get upset and hats off to the CCHA for making a good showing thus far. And, ok....I'll note that I never expected MSU to beat Colorado College in Colorado. They came to play unlike their basketball team today.

You May Have Noticed....

......my lack of words on the last few Red Wings games. Let's just say I'm really itching for the playoffs to start and getting really bored with these games against non-playoff division teams.

What?!

How the hell does Wisconsin get a bid in the NCAA Tournament with a 15-16-7 record. And in the regional in Madison no less! Ridiculous! Who makes these decisions? This is as bad of a decision as when they let Michigan State play in Grand Rapids last year over Michigan even though the Wolverines beat them in the CCHA semifinals. Wow.......

I'm probably the only one in the country...well maybe state who cares or is pissed about this. If that is the case then to hell with you all.

CCHA CHAMPIONS!

Well....for the first time in as long as I can remember, the Michigan Wolverines dominate both Joe Louis Arena banners (whoop-de-do). The GLI and CCHA Championships both belong to the Wolverines after a 2-1 win over Miami. Billy Sauer was the man of the game in the championship, as Miami brought a lot of pressure to the maize and blue and outshot Michigan 28-26. It was nice to see Sauer prove that he can step it up in a huge game. One concern of mine is that Kevin Porter was completely off the scoresheet in the semifinal and final. That can't happen if Michigan is going to go anywhere in the NCAA Tournament.

So here we go.....it's tourney time and time for Michigan to make a run. There's no reason why this team should not get to the frozen four AT THE VERY LEAST! I'm tired of Michigan coming up short every year for ten years. It's time to perform.

Good luck to MSU with playing Colorado College in Colorado in the first round. If Michigan and MSU get out of their regionals, they'll be playing each other in the Frozen Four. Wouldn't that be something? Don't count on it, though...............

Red Wings 4 Blue Jackets 1

I didn't get to see the game because I'm a retard and forgot that the Wings were on a different channel because the CCHA Championship was on FSN. As a result, I taped the CCHA Championship twice! Oh well..... I did see Datsyuk's shorthanded goal and it was a beauty. One thing is for sure: I'm dying for my boy Cleary to get back in the lineup and add even more spark.

2 Games In 1

Red Wings 3 Blue Jackets 1: I'll be to the point on this one. Henrik Zetterberg is the man.

Red Wings 6 Predators 3: This is the most complete the offense has looked in a long time. And they needed to be with Dom letting by a weak game tying goal in the third. Great job by the Wings to immediately recover from blowing a two goal lead early in the third.

CCHA Tournament

Easy weekend for the Wolverines, sweeping Nebraska-Omaha with 10-1 and 2-1 victories. I got to attend the 10-1 game. It was quite the treat and I was very fortunate in getting a hold of a ticket and it broke a streak of three straight Michigan hockey games I attended where the final was 1-0. Yost is by far the best place to watch live hockey. The arena is nostalgic, the fans are rowdy, rude and vulgar (apparently "Ugly Parents" is a new chant when the opposing team's players' parents celebrate a goal on the road hahahaha).

I also have to mention how shocked I am at seeing that NORTHERN MICHIGAN ELIMINATED MICHIGAN STATE FROM THE TOURNAMENT! This is both amusing and disappointing as I was kind of hoping for a Michigan vs Michigan State clash at Joe Louis Arena to force Michigan to beat the defending National Champions. I wonder how much this will affect Michigan State's seeding (if at all?) in the NCAA tournament. I believe this means that Michigan will play Northern in the semifinal as Michigan is the highest seed and Northern is the lowest. If that is the case, Michigan better be ready because the Wildcats will have momentum coming off of that upset.

Wow...I really can't believe Northern Michigan eliminated MSU. Hahaha....

Jackets 4 Red Wings 3

Never a good situation when you lose when outshooting the hell out of the other team. This is why I'm scarted shitless of managment committing to Hasek being the playoff goaltender already. Not that he is playing absolutely horrible every game, but he looks more and more shaky every day. Even though everything but the conference has been clinched, the Wings need to make sure there is good continuity and confidence these last few weeks.

However, I still want the playoffs to start now! :)

Predators 3 Red Wings 1

Yawn.......is it playoff time yet?

Red Wings 5 Stars 3

Johan Franzen is the man on the power play, but why are they using Tomas Kopecky consistently on their second power play line? Is he really one of the top six power play forwards we have? Even though both teams are missing some key players, I still feel good about this win after the Stars shut us out last time. It's unfortunate Samuelsson got the game winning goal. He still remains on my shit list because Robidas knocked it in for him anyway.

It Isn't 1997

............I am NOT a proponent of bringing back McCarty to the Red Wings lineup AT ALL. He is going to be one step behind everyone at this point in the season. All the talk I've heard is about him being in the lineup come playoff time. This has got to be one of the worst decisions I've seen the Wings make since Adam Oates for Bernie Federko. He isn't in the shape he used to be and will just be a burden on the Wings if he returns to the lineup. I don't care if he got a hat trick in the minors. It's the minors! I loved D-Mac before he went to Calgary and still love him now, but we are not in that desperate of need for physical players that we need to send a young player down to bring him up. Besides, that why we added Stuart.

Dan Cleary Is Staying!

OK, my week of relaxation (I'm on a paid vacation right now) caused me to completely miss this story: Dan Cleary signed a contract extension with the Wings! This is the best news I've heard this week as he has become my favorite player. Now I can feel comfortable going out and purchasing that jersey. I need a new one anyway. I have Shanny, who is gone, and McCarty, who is back but c'mon......

...which leads me to my next comment............

Red Wings 3 Blackhawks 1

The top player of this game was a goalie I've never heard of until yesterday, Corey Crawford. The Wings dominated most of this game, and it was nice to see Robert Lang choke on the penalty shot. At least he's choking in a different uniform now. I want to see Downey go after Wisniewski in the next Wings/Hawks game and make him pay for the crosscheck to the face on Samuelsson. Dallas next. Keep this streak rolling guys!

Red Wings 4 Predators 3

What happened in the 3rd period guys? Were you as bored with the game as I was after all the silly penalty calls? Always nice to beat the Predators (if you don't know, they are my most hated team after a trip down to Nashville a few years ago), and nice to be back to our winning ways. Although he's supposed to be adding physicality and not offense, Brad Stuarts 1st goal with the winged wheel on was a gem, as he looked like #13 making a move from behind the net and backhanding one by Mason. I kind of what Nashville in the first round. I don't think they have the goaltending to give us a challenge. Then again, who does when we're healthy?

Officials

Jesus Christ refs, let these guys play! I'm typing this in the middle of the Wings/Preds game, which has absolutely no flow because the refs are calling penalties against both sides every time someone touches somebody. This happens every f***ing March down the playoff stretch when refs are trying to be heroes and be noticed so they get picked for the big playoffs games and the stanley cup finals. It absolutely kills the game! I don't care if the Wings are winning, it's like watching basketball right now!

Red Wings 4 Blues 1

Think Rafalski being out of the lineup wasn't a huge loss? How about a +3 night and a goal for him. I couldn't believe it when I saw three Blues players chasing after Downey and hacking him all the way down the ice. I guess that's the only thing the Blues can chase after since the playoffs are all but out of reach.

NHL vs NBA Attendance

All you people out there that think hockey is boring and think it is so extremely unpopular compared to basketball, read this and weep.

Currently the average NHL attendance this year is 17,147 fans per game and the average NBA attendance is 17,141 per game. That's right, the NHL is averaging 6 more fans per game (with slight help from the Winter Classic in Buffalo).

Also, the NHL only has 1 team that is averaging under 14,000 fans per game at home while the NBA has 6 in the same category.

Wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that all but 5 teams in one of the conferences are above .500. That's how I lost interest in watching the Pistons and attending their games. It's turned into a joke following the regular season and come playoff time....well....I choose exciting, grind it out, fast paced action over game after game of fans and players yelling at referees at the end of the 4th quarter, which is usually sequence after sequence of foul shots.

Thus the name of my blog.....

:)

Red Wings 4 Sabres 2

Kronwall made a huge difference in this game, and guys like Hudler and Filpulla made huge contributions, as the Wings FINALLY get a win! This is a big month in which all remaining games are against division opponents except for one against Dallas. The playoff intensity begins now!

Ian Laperriere

Here are his comments after the game when Downey went after him following injuring Lidstrom:

“I didn’t understand all the commotion. I thought the hit was fair. The referee said it wasn’t illegal.”

Here are his comments after last night's game against Los Angeles when Jack Johnson injured Ryan Smyth and Laperriere went after Jack Johnson:

“It doesn’t matter if it’s clean or not clean, it’s a big hit on one of our big players and he got injured and someone had to do something. I felt like it had to be me. Jack knew exactly that someone had to come.”

What a turd..............

Sharks 3 Red Wings 2

More of the same in this slump. The Sharks were all over them in most of the first two periods, they missed a lot of great chances in front of the net, and perhaps a little bad luck on the controversial third San Jose goal. In any event, no more excuses. Despite the fact that teams generally play sluggish in their first game back at home after a western trip, there needs to be some guys stepping up and making plays.