The Datsyukian Geek

Detroit Begins Defense of Streak, Host Predators

2012-02-17T14:31:00.000-08:00

Detroit (39-17-2) VS Nashville (33-18-6)

Now that the Red Wings have set the record, it's time to see how long we can extend it. Detroit will face Nashville this evening, in a game where a win means their home winning streak will be increased to 22 games!

Henrik Zetterberg, who had been pegged to miss tonight's game, is now a game-time decision.

Bit of a quick one today, but that doesn't mean Detroit can take their foot off the gas, we need to keep piling up the points!! I hope to catch most of the game after work.

Let's Go Red Wings!!

Wings Find Favor with Hockey Gods, Defeat Dallas 3-1

2012-02-14T19:29:00.000-08:00

The Red Wings have claimed a piece of NHL history all for their own.

Detroit successfully defended JLA ice against the Dallas Stars and won their 21st consecutive home game--the most of any NHL team all-time--by a score of 3-1. Brad Stuart scored the game-winning goal and Joey MacDonald came ever so close to earning a shutout in the victory.

Sadly, I was not able to watch the game, but my heart was with the Wings and I knew that Detroit had the talent to go out and win this game.

They did, and now they have the longest home winning streak ever in the NHL.

Now it's time to move on and continue trying to improve the regular season record to compete for playoff positioning.

It's been a great run, boys. If it keeps going, that's great. If it doesn't, the record is still all ours.

Let's Go Red Wings!!!

Will History be Kind or Cruel? Wings Attempt Record VS Stars

2012-02-14T15:17:00.000-08:00

Detroit (38-17-2) VS Dallas (28-24-3)

No, this is not for the Cup, but this could still be a pretty special night.

Detroit, with 20 consecutive home wins under it's belt, a mark that ties the all-time NHL record, will try to take sole possession of the record when they play host this evening to the Dallas Stars. Even though the Wings are trying not to think about the milestone, the match tonight is no less important as the last, with the playoff race for positioning is still as tight as it ever was.

For Mike Babcock and the Red Wings, it's another game and another chance for 2 valuable points. To some, it may seem odd to not use the chance at breaking an NHL record as motivation, but Detroit didn't tie the record by going into each game and thinking, 'Hey, this gets us one game closer to tying the record!'. The boys have simply kept the mentality of 'We do what we do.', nothing more, nothing less.

When it's all said and done tonight, may the history books show that the hockey gods had at least one more smile to shine down on this amazing run.

Let's Go Red Wings!!

Wings Go For 20 VS Philly: Game Preview

2012-02-12T15:17:00.000-08:00

Detroit (37-17-2) VS Philadelphia (31-17-7)

For fans who enjoy milestones, it's nail-chewing time.

The Red Wings will defend home ice tonight against the Flyers for a chance to tie the all-time consecutive home wins record with their 20th straight home victory. The task will certainly have its challenges, but I believe that, if Detroit plays their game, if they go out and simply do what they do, then Hockeytown will share in another piece of NHL history.

As if tying the record weren't enough, though, one must take into consideration the depth into which the season has gone. A win tonight would add another huge 2 points to the Wings' total in a Western Conference that has been neck-and-neck for a while. You mustn't forget that Detroit has played 56 games coming into tonight's match, tied for the most games played by any Western team currently in a playoff spot so far this season. With division and conference rivals having games in hand, we need to keep piling up the W's until they pull even in GP.

For tonight's match, Joey MacDonald will likely get another start, as this game is far too important to trust Ty Conklin with. Jo-Mac has been pretty solid over his last 3 starts, so he's got my vote to back up Jimmah when he returns, and hopefully can hold his ground this evening against the Flyers.

One thing that needs to change soon, however, is the low-scoring. The Wings have been cutting these games way too fine, the last game against Anaheim was a great example. We can't keep going to OT and the shootout for wins, because sooner or later, that puck-luck is gonna run out. Early pressure, lots of shots on net, and hopefully--with a goal or two early on--we can watch Detroit build a lead that they can cushion as the game progresses. It's been my experience as a Wings fan that this team is not good at defending a lead, so I prefer the boys simply keep playing like they don't have one. Keep the gas pedal down all night on Philly and run them ragged.

We'll see what happens though, and we'll see how the history books remember this game.

Let's Go Red Wings!!

Game Preview: Wings VS Ducks

2012-02-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

Detroit (36-17-2) VS Anaheim (21-24-8)

Gotta get back on the go, here!

The Wings have a chance tonight to tie the 3rd longest home win streak in NHL history, but will have to do it without All-Star goalie Jimmy Howard when the Wings host the Anaheim Ducks. Detroit can, with a victory this evening, stretch their home winning streak to 19 games. They will be facing an Anaheim team that was not enjoyed the Joe Louis Arena atmosphere in a very long time.

It behooves the Wings to come out of the gate early in this one. A quick start with a goal or two early in the 1st period would really help set the tone the Wings may need to cash in a W tonight. With no Jimmah between the pipes, chances are Joey MacDonald will get the call to shut the door on the Ducks. Ty Conklin, who was brought in to be the number 2 goalie has been nothing -but- number 2, his save percentage being the worst among goalies appearing in at least 10 games, as quoted by Yahoo! Sports.

Some of the guys really need to step up over the next few games and make a statement. First among them, in my mind, is Henrik Zetterberg. Hank notched a goal in Detroit's latest win over Edmonton, but it's not something he's done much of this season. Danny Cleary and Drew Miller (11G respectively) have more goals than Z (10G) coming into this match. This is not ever supposed to happen. Ever. We need a concerted effort and a solid mindset to not underestimate an Anaheim team that may be playing more for pride now than a playoff spot, and what a feather in their plucky cap it'd be to sabotage the Wings' hopes of moving toward the record for consecutive home wins.

I'll be keeping an eye on the game till I get home from work. You may see me on Twitter when that happens, but I hope you enjoy the game regardless!

Let's Go Red Wings!!

Recipe for better success

2012-02-05T02:07:00.001-08:00

Damn well trade Conklin, he's goddamned useless, end of story.

Wings Wallow Against Inspired Isles, Lose 5-1

2012-01-11T09:54:00.000-08:00

Man oh man, I just can't figure this out.

Is it because the boys write off games against this team? Is it the underdog complex winning the day game in and game out? Whatever it is, the Red Wings apparently need to just STOP playing the New York Islanders.

With Pavel Datsyuk out due to a lower body injury, and Ty Conklin, well...being Ty Conklin, Detroit staggered to an embarrassing 5-1 loss in what should have been an easier-than-average tilt. Instead, we helped the Isles move all the way up to...second-to-worst team in the East.

Good job, boys. We don't need those gimmie wins, right? Right...?

I didn't get to watch the game, but I don't need to have seen it to know that even without Dats in the lineup, there is plenty of firepower on this team to get more than 1 puck past Evgeni Nabokov. Was that the reason for this latest bed-soiling against the Isles? Just a case of Nabby haunting us, showing us what we COULD have had instead of Conklin? Maybe so, but we've got what we've got, and what we've got should be beating NYI into the ice 8 days out of 7.

Thanks to the poor effort last night, Detroit drops out of top spot in the Central, and the Blues have now claimed it. I know we usually talk out not caring about topping the Division/Conference, but the way we've been playing at home, the Wings may want to make sure that, come season's end, their name is one of the top 3 in the West. Dropping games like last night is just going to make that more difficult.

Wings Stand Firm in Oiltown, Edge Edmonton 3-2

2011-12-19T21:20:00.000-08:00

Well, that was a harrowing evening!

Drew Miller came through for the Red Wings in the final frame and once again scored the game-winning goal against the Edmonton Oilers, holding on for a 3-2 win. Danny Cleary and Jiri Hudler also scored for Detroit in a game that, in some instances, the Wings could have let slip away.

I say this because there have been similar games played by Detroit that they HAVE let slip away from them. It's nice to see that Detroit is learning to better adapt when things don't go as planned, like against Los Angeles. Jimmy Howard was solid again tonight, helping keep the Wings on top with his 20th win of the season, making him the 1st goalie to hit that mark this year.

Couple of thoughts on the game: As I already mentioned, this was a game that the Wings could have let get away from them, what with the speed and raw talent of the youthful Oilers squad. Thankfully, hard work and experience proved the determining factor in this contest.

The bottom 2 forward lines have just been stellar of late, and it just proves again that a team with depth is a force to be reckoned with. Coach Babcock has to be grinning inside when he can roll all 4 lines and get production from each one, without having to worry about leaning on the superstars to generate offense.

Now, the Red Wings will head to Vancouver for a date with the Canucks, and a chance to start moving above .500 on the road!

Class dismissed

Oh, and also: Apologies to the Jonny fans, but Ericsson was garbage [again] tonight, my ire is further risen.

Wings Focused on Flipping Fortunes, Face Phoenix

2011-12-08T14:02:00.001-08:00

Detroit (16-9-1) VS Phoenix (15-9-3)

Holy F.

The Red Wings have looked sub-par in their previous 2 games, and their record has suffered for it accordingly. Now it's time for Detroit to jump back on the win wagon with a match-up tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes. The good news coming into tonight's game is that Valtteri Filppula will be back in the lineup after being cut by a skate and sidelined.

Since Flip's absence, Detroit has looked off. More bad passing, more miscommunication, and a general increase in inconsistency. Hopefully with Val back in the lineup, things will shift back to normal.

My money is on Flip to come back and make an immediate impact again, picking up where he left off before his injury.

That's it from me. Now I must prep for a sparring session for fencing, then return to cheer on the Wings!

Class dismissed.

The Times, They Are A'Changing

2011-12-05T21:46:00.001-08:00

It's pretty much official now: We will once again be looking at a new NHL come next season.

The NHL Board of Governors have approved a re-alignment format for the 2012-2013 season that looks to be ready to bring about much change to the way teams get to Lord Stanley's Cup. The NHL will now consist of 4 Conferences, for now simply denoted as Conference 'A' through 'D'. At the end of the regular season, each Conference's Top 4 will play quarterfinal and semifinal series to determine the winner of each Conference, leaving the Final 4. Those four will then be paired off--likely Conference A vs B, C vs D--and the winners will meet for a shot at the Stanley Cup.

What does this mean in the long run for the Red Wings? Well, the first thing that comes to mind after looking the format over is the change in scheduling. Detroit will no longer be forced into multiple marathon west-coast road trips like recent years. Every team will play the majority of their games against the other teams in their Conference. Each team will now only play 1 away game against non-Conference opponents.

Though at this time the Commish still needs to bring the proposed format to the NHLPA, it's likely that this will be passed, and we will again see a new era of Detroit Red Wings hockey.

Quick Pre-Game: Wings Face Under-Fire Flames

2011-11-23T15:17:00.001-08:00

Detroit (11-7-1) VS Calgary (8-10-1)

I'd like to take a moment and talk about the Wings for this pre-game, but seeing as how I missed both of the last 2 Detroit games, I really don't have much input. What I've heard, however, impresses me: Datsyuk and Zetterberg seem to have found their scoring touch again, and the Red Wings are back to stocking up W's.

Tonight, they defend home ice against the Calgary Flames, a team struggling to find their form before Thanksgiving comes and goes. Right now, though, they've little to be thankful for: 17 points in 19 games puts them 10 points behind 1st in the Western Conference...not to mention 10 points behind 1st in their own division. Jarome Iginla is getting scrutinized as the team's leader, which means I'm worrying about him tonight, if I'm coach Babcock.

Looking for a strong game from the boys tonight to start a new winning streak! 30 minutes to puck-drop, I hope you all enjoy the game!

Class dismissed.

Curse of the Sharks Continues, Wings get Whipped 5-2

2011-11-18T12:14:00.001-08:00

See that in the corner? That is what I'm left with after last night's game against the San Jose Sharks. It is what I've been left with after many games against the San Jose Sharks. It is also what I seem to see floating over every Red Wings player's head when they PLAY the San Jose Sharks.

So...SO many questions I want to ask.

The Red Wings dropped yet another match to the Sharks in San Jose last night, getting embarrassed on the road 5-2 by the home team. This was made worse by the fact that, for the 2nd straight game, the Wings scored first and had a lead to hold onto and botched it completely. This leads me to my 1st question:

Why do the Red Wings players seem unable to communicate with one another at all during games?

I said on Twitter last night that, at least usually, I can predict how rough of a game it's going to be for Detroit based on their passing. If the passing is clicking, then it's going to be their game to lose. The intensity is usually better, there's better pressure in the offensive zone, minimal turnovers, and more wearing down of the other team. What I saw last night worried me from the beginning. Bad passes, sloppy, errant throw-aways to no one or, sometimes even worse, right to opposing players with no Wings even in the vicinity of the puck. This is amateur-ish play, and completely unbecoming of the talented roster that rides the Red Wing pine. You want a perfect example of the lack of communication? Look at the tying goal at the end of the 1st period last night. Whether or not the puck was going to be playable for Jimmah is irrelevant. When an opposing player is barreling toward the puck the way JOE BLOODY THORNTON did on that play, you do NOT back off! At least get down there and give your goaltender some support! As it turns out, the puck DIDN'T make it to the trapezoid, and as a result, Howard could not play the puck, and it was a freebie scoring chance for the Sharks, which they gladly obliged.

It all just went downhill from there, with the Wings piling shots on net only to see San Jose's side of the scoreboard keep rising. This brings me to question #2:

Why do our scorers never shoot the puck anymore?

We went through this with the Mule. Now we're noticing it with other forwards: Filppula, Zetterberg, Datsyuk. NOBODY IS SHOOTING! How in the name of the hockey gods do you expect to score goals when the superstars on your team are not shooting the puck!?? You know who led our team in SOG last night? Dan Cleary. Yeah, DANNY CLEARY, because he's definitely the biggest offensive force on this squad. How many shots did Datsyuk and Zetterberg combine for last night? 2 shots, Datsyuk with a pair, and Zetterberg with none. Hank almost had a shot, but he'd been so quiet all night that when he finally decided he'd give it a try, he telegraphed it so bad that he helped make Joe Thornton look like Datsyuk on the takeaway. Oh, and guess what? That one ended up a goal, too. Just another odd-man rush Detroit allowed San Jose which led to high percentage chances as opposed to Detroit's crappy, low percentage chances. I still believe there's no goal scored last night that anyone can blame on Jimmy Howard of the 4 that went by him. Which leads me to the final question of the evening:

What in the hell was Babcock thinking pulling Jimmy Howard for the 3rd period???

I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but I seriously wondered if coach Babcock had a stroke or something when this decision was made. Ken and Murph tried to play it off as trying to shake things up on the ice, and guess what? It worked...for San Jose, as they added another goal in the final frame, woo! Seriously, Mike: What did you think that would accomplish when you're supposed to be trying to WIN the game!? I was frustrated with Detroit last night, but that game was not out of reach going into the 3rd; however, pulling Howard irreparably made it so. Jimmah did not play poorly, in fact he made some great saves to minimize the damage his lackluster teammates were allowing. Supposing Howard had enough in the tank that night to keep the rest of the pucks out, you're looking at a 4-2 score when Cleary netted his goal in the 3rd, which came at 13:38 of the period. 2 goals in 6 and a half minutes is far more realistic than trying for 3. Even down 2 goals, you think about pulling the goalie for the extra man in the final minutes. You can't do it down 3, it's too far.

In summary, I guess I'm looking for a few particular things from the Wings in the next few games to improve, these are:

1.) Simplify the passing game/Minimize turnovers.
2.) Scorers NEED to shoot the puck, need higher percentage chances.
3.) Better on-ice communication is sorely needed.
4.) If Babs wants to mix something up, don't start with your goalie when he's not playing poorly.

We'll have to wait and see what Red Wings team we get next game.

Class Dismissed.

Wings Look Slick Against Oilers, Blank Edmonton 3-0

2011-11-11T19:04:00.001-08:00

One is a dot, two is a line, and three is a pattern...or in this case, a streak.

That's where Detroit is sitting now, after holding the youngin'-filled Edmonton Oilers scoreless. The Red Wings saw goals from Drew Miller, Niklas Kronwall and Valtteri Filppula to rout the Oilers 3-0. Jimmy Howard recorded his 3rd shutout of the season, and his 8th of his career.

The Wings were able to counter much of Edmonton's typical high-octane style of play by staying disciplined with the puck, minimizing turnovers, and staying physical in the neutral zone. Patrick Eaves made his way back to the lineup tonight and was very feisty on the ice. Another big factor on the ice, in my mind, was Darren Helm. Helm's tenacity never ceases to amaze me, but tonight there were stints where it literally looked like he was in two places at once. He was absolutely dogged in his pursuit of puck carriers, and relentless on the boards when battling for puck possession.

Henrik Zetterberg was a game-time decision, and even though he recorded an assist with his beautiful saucer pass to Filppula, it was obvious that he was nursing some kind of injury. Johan Franzen also got an assist on the same goal, and continued his point streak, which is now at 7 points over 3 games.

So as it stands, the Wings move into 7th in the West with their win over the Oil. We'll see if that holds after the rest of the night's games are concluded. One thing is for sure: the Wings are moving nicely back into winning form.

Class Dismissed.

Wings Hope to Avoid Snowballing VS Avalanche

2011-11-08T10:29:00.000-08:00

Detroit (6-5-1) VS Colorado (7-6-1)

Detroit has finally put the horrific losing streak behind them, and now the task of starting a streak in the other direction begins. The Red Wings will be looking to win their 2nd straight game against our old foes, the Colorado Avalanche.

The roster for tonight's match is relatively unchanged from Saturday: Todd Bertuzzi and Patrick Eaves are both still out with their respective ailments, but Mike Commodore will be replaced by Jakub Kindl on the blueline. It also appears that the splitting of Datsyuk and Zetterberg will continue, with Pavel manning the top line, and Hank working the 2nd line.

My thoughts on this game are such: I am not looking for another blowout. We put the concerns about scoring behind us in Anaheim, the boys proved that there's no lingering issues there. I would prefer to see a couple early goals, then watch the Red Wings lock things down defensively. Isn't that what Coach Babcock wants in the first place? He's been trying to get the team more tight defensively, but it's a more difficult task when the offense isn't there and there's no lead to protect. In a case like that, you worry as much about scoring to get the lead as you do about not making a mistake and giving the opposing team the lead!

My prediction: 3-2 Wings, with Filppula getting the Gold Star as player of the game.

Let's Go Red Wings!!

Wings Go Duck Hunting, Rout Anaheim 5-0

2011-11-06T14:53:00.000-08:00

How's everyone's shoulders feel the day after? Do they feel a little lighter? I know mine do.

Detroit finally got the offensive ball rolling again and took the Anaheim Ducks to task, whipping them 5-0 on Saturday night. Nicklas Lidstrom netted a pair, and Niklas Kronwall, Henrik Zetterberg, and Johan Franzen also found the back of the net, giving the Wings almost as many goals in one game as they'd gotten in their last 6. Jimmy Howard also posted his 7th career shutout in the tilt.

I hope the Wings remember what they did last night and can carry into their next few games, because one win does not a solution make. At the very least, the Wings did win in dominant fashion. I would be much more concerned had Detroit simply held on to win a 1-0 game and still not found a way to score in bunches. Also, what a relief to see the Mule take his own advice and shoot the puck!! 2 games he goes without putting a shot on net and he goes out last night and fires half a dozen Jonas Hiller's way. Hopefully now that he's found the twine, he can continue to do so. We're definitely going to need it to claw our way back to the top after that little stumble.

Next up: The Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.

Class dismissed.

A Call for Detention: Wings Winless thru 5

2011-11-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

Before I even begin: Yes, that was a terrible no-call on Koivu.

Also: Yes, that was a terrible no-call on Setoguchi at the exact same time as Koivu.

Now, with that aside, I want to begin by saying that I am extremely volatile over what transpired last night in the Red Wings' 2-1 OT loss to the Wild. Someone last night said it best: "The Wings deserved better, the Wild deserved less."

With that said, there's an argument to be made here. The argument doesn't just span last night's...whatever it was resembling a game, it spans this whole 5 game winless skid we've got going on. Anyone think I'm wrong in saying the Wings have been a completely uninspired and unfocused group lately? Barring a rare few players, there's no jump in the skates, there's no ferocity in the corners, no drive to get to the net. Detroit is lacking the urgency to win that most teams have all the time, minus the talent to put it to good use.

You think Columbus is feeling urgent to win some games? You damn well know they do.

And with the loss last night, the squandering of our best start in 30 years is complete: 5 up, followed by 5 down. 10 pts after 5 games, and 11 points after 10. Pathetic and, more importantly, unacceptable in these parts. Change is needed, but it's not the roster or the personnel. It's the work ethic, the grit to play the same way and at the same high level at minute 60 as you did at minute 1. The scorers need to shoot more, the checkers need to hit and grind more. He who hesitates is lost, and the Wings have shown every time through this trek in the wilderness of losses that their easing off the gas is killing them. Errant passes--or simply throwing the puck at no one at all--landing on the other team's sticks, half-assing defensive assignments, an unwillingness to just put the puck on net. These are all things can can be remedied as long as the team actually works to remedy them. They say it, oh they say it plenty, but I've not seen the boys act on all the things they've been saying they can do to get out of this rut.

When Johan Franzen was asked by Ken Kal how the Wings can improve before last night's game, he answered, "Shoot." three times. That was three more times than Franzen actually shot at the net during the game.

See what I'm getting at...?

Class dismissed.

Wings Wasting Best Start since '72 - A Study Hall Moment

2011-10-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

"FFFFFFFF...!"

I can imagine this is what Babs is doing, and has been doing, since the end of last night's game. I know I am.

Detroit played host to ~~Todd McLellan~~ San Jose last night and was defeated by ~~him~~ them 4-2. I apologize for the political correctness of correcting myself here, but even though most anyone would agree that the only reason the Sharks can deal with Detroit is having the former assistant coach for the Wings be their head coach, it's just not something that's nice to say.

As if that's ever stopped me before.

I'll say it right now: If Todd wasn't their bench boss, the roles would be the complete opposite. No, this isn't whining, especially when you look at the stats. Sharks players themselves will tell you that the games are extremely closely contested, but when your head coach used to work with almost every guy on the other team, he knows stuff about them that he can exploit. Perhaps we'll see something similar in time with Ottawa now being commanded by Paul MacLean, but Ottawa does not have the talent that San Jose does--at least not yet.

Anyway, enough about that. The bigger problem here is that Detroit lost. Again. For the third straight game. That, my friends, is a losing streak. It is also unacceptable. I simply can't fathom how a team like the Wings can come out the gate so hot and cool so completely! Outside of the top line, nothing is happening with the skaters, offensively OR defensively. Last night was a perfect example: Offensively, there was such poor passing through most of the match that it was painful to watch. It showed a terrible lack of proper communication between the players. Speaking of lack of communication, defense was...

Yeah, that sums that up. I mean come on, look at the 3-2 goal for the Sharks. Three guys back and Ian White, one of them, takes a guy to the boards. Okay, fine, but do you think that maybe one of the other two skaters near the other end of the boards could try to, I don't know, get back and take away the middle??? Joe Thornton knows what a gimmie is, and if you offer him one like on that play, he will take it 8 days out of 7.

Sadly, even the return of Jimmy Howard wasn't enough to break Detroit from their funk. None of the 3 goals he allowed, to me, were unstoppable, and I really feel he should've had that 2-1 goal from Marleau. Such was not to be though, and Detroit now sits at 5-3-0 after winning their first 5 games, their best start in almost 30 years. The Wings have wasted a great opportunity to pad their place in the standings when the inevitable injury list piles up as it always does through the regular season. On tap tonight is a date with the Wild, where the Wings will meet the former Sharks Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi. More on that later tonight, for right now the focus is on where the Wings are going performance-wise.

Somebody help me out here, what do you think is the best solution to the flash-meltdown the Red Wings are having all of a sudden? I'm not pressing the panic button, of course, but this is still a little bit of a concern. 2 of the last 3 games were definitely winnable games, which would have had us sitting at 7-1-0 to start the season, 14 points in 8 games. Do you think a shuffling of the lines would spark something? Is the reported waiving of Fabian Brunnstrom and return of Mike Commodore enough to stir Detroit from their recent slumber?

Feel free to give it some thought and leave a comment, I'm curious to see what people feel is the key problem at the moment.

Class dismissed.

Wings Welcome Familiar Foe

2011-10-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

Detroit (5-2-0) VS San Jose (4-3-0)

The Red Wings will open their doors this evening to a team we've seen far too much of over the last two years. The San Jose Sharks come into Detroit with 8 points through 7 games, two less than Detroit, and the Wings will be looking to keep them at bay with Jimmy Howard back in net. The #1 goaltender for Detroit was busy becoming a dad over the last few days, to which I want to wish him a hearty congratulations. I--as well as many, I'm sure--hope that he gives his new son an early present: winning his first game back.

Ty Conklin, for all his efforts, came up short for the Wings in the last two matches against Columbus and Washington, and having the St. James Gate put firmly back into place might be what the Wings need to return to their winning ways. Also, though Coach Mike Babcock has made it quite clear he's not happy with the overall performance of his players recently, it appears the first line of Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Cleary will not be split, as they did continue to practice as a unit.

One thing to keep in mind going into this game: this is a slightly different Sharks team that Detroit faces tonight as opposed to the last two years. One very visible difference is the jersey Ian White is wearing. The former Sharks blueliner has found himself a home opposite one Nicklas Lidstrom, an address change ANY defenceman would welcome. Also, some names like Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi have made their exit from the Sharks roster. Setoguchi always seemed to have the Wings' number ever since the "Phantom Goal" he scored a few years back. Anyone else remember that? You know, the one where the puck went out of play, came back down off the mesh onto Setoguchi's stick, and he just slammed it into the back of the net and it counted? Yeah, since that, he just always seemed to find the back of the net against whatever Detroit goalie he faced, didn't matter. Hopefully his change of scenery has nixed that little charm.

I'm hoping to see a class act performance tonight from none other than Jimmy Howard. I really do believe he'll make the difference tonight. The skaters will be much more confident with Jimmah manning the crease, and that should help the offense get back on its feet.

Enjoy the game, Wingnuts! Let's Go Red Wings!!

Return of The Geek Means Wings' Winning Streak Snaps

2011-10-23T17:15:00.000-07:00

Well, it was worth a shot.

After a terrible outing by the Detroit Red Wings last night, and a very difficult day today, I am making my return to the Blogosphere. I am a fairly superstitious person, so when I noticed that the Wings were winning games in bunches, I decided to maintain the "blog-silence" I had slipped into to help with final preparations for my wedding. It worked...or, at least, it did for a while.

Last night, the Wings were stomped into the ice by the only other unbeaten team left in the league: the Washington Capitals, losing the affair by a ghastly 7-1 final score. Though I knew I would be, by design, returning to The Geek after a Detroit defeat, this is far from what I had hoped to come back to. A thrilling game ended in overtime or even (ugh...) the shootout? Sure. How about a one-goal loss where the Wings at least got the goalie pulled and put on a frantic and ferocious show trying to even the score before time expired? I can dig that.

7-1? Really?

The Geek is disappoint.

On the upside, Detroit has a 5-1-0 record to start the season. We've certainly had worse starts, that's for sure. Putting the loss aside for a moment, the Red Wings have looked very impressive over the course of the first few regular season games. Players have been contributing and I get the sense like there's some cohesion and synergy that hasn't permeated the entire group for a few years. Here's hoping it turns into something later...a big-shiny-silver-cup something.

I'm going to keep it short tonight, Wingnuts; however, I am back now, so expect to hear from me regularly once more, both here and on Twitter.

Class is dismissed.

Red Wings' Preseason Opens with Loss

2011-09-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

Preseason hockey is never something to get terribly worked up about, but let me tell you one thing: after the horror that was--and forevermore shall be known as--The Summer of Sadness, watching some actual hockey being played was a welcome sight.

The Detroit Red Wings played their first preseason game on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tied at a goal apiece after 20 minutes, Detroit dropped into a 3-1 hole during the second period and the Wings were never able to dig their way back out, coming up short with a 3-2 defeat. Niklas Kronwall and Jiri Hudler (WHAAAAAT??) provided the offense for Detroit, while Jimmy Howard minded the net during the first two frames before Joey MacDonald closed out the game.

Again, since this is preseason hockey, there's nothing to really be drawn from as far as season projections, but one player stood out to me in particular for parts of the game. Danny Cleary looked like a man possessed, and though he did get slightly careless with a boarding call that sat him for 5 minutes, the tenacity was much appreciated.

Another standout was Pavel Datsyuk, but not for reasons one would normally expect. As you'll notice in the photo above, Dats did not wear his usual #13. After the events surrounding the tragic Lokomotiv plane crash, Pavel decided to don the #24 in honor of his fallen former teammate, Ruslan Salei, for the duration of the preseason. It is a touching tribute, and one not unexpected from the humble magician.

Tonight, the Wings continue their battle against Pennsylvania with a meeting with the Flyers. I'll likely be on Twitter so, as always, don't be shy to chat me up if you see me around!

Till next time, Wingnuts! Let's Go Red Wings!!

Returning in the Midst of Tragedy...

2011-09-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a long summer and, to be honest, I was looking forward to coming back and posting the return of The Geek for this upcoming season. I've had tons of things on the go to keep me distracted in the offseason: getting another stage production off the ground and planning my upcoming wedding, to name just a pair. So with my mind refreshed from last year's disappointment and the tumult of the summer news stories, I thought today was going to be the time to bring it all back for another run.

Then I checked the sports headlines on the work computer, and everything turned upside down.

If you have somehow not heard the news, reports have been confirmed throughout the day that an aircraft carrying the KHL team Lokomotiv crashed directly after takeoff from an airport near Yaroslavl. All but 2 passengers, one player and one crew member, were killed in the accident. Even more sadly for Wings fans, among the casualties were former defenceman and assistant head coach Brad McCrimmon, recently departed defenceman Ruslan Salei, and Wings goaltending prospect Stephan Liv. All are believed confirmed to have died in the crash.

In one fell swoop, Red Wings Nation lost a piece of its past, [almost] present, and future. My deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of all those whose lives were lost in this terrible tragedy, and my thoughts are with them as they try to move forward in this trying time. Although it is with a heavy heart that I return, yet return I must, and thus I do. I will be prepping for the season in the coming weeks, perhaps posting some player profiles and analyses, and general banter and the usual asinine lamentings of some of the decisions made in the offseason.

For now, though, it is still Brad, Stephan and Rusty's time, and I give them now their due. You will be missed, boys.

~~In loving memory of:~~

Brad Byron McCrimmon (March 29, 1959 - September 7, 2011)

Ruslan "Rusty" Salei (November 2, 1974 - September 7, 2011)

Stephan Patryk Liv (December 20, 1980 - September 7, 2011)

Bruins Cup Win Hazed by Vancouver Smoke and Tear Gas

2011-06-16T09:53:00.000-07:00

It appears that 17 years is long enough for a city to forget, and 4 losses are simply too many to forgive.

Despite what you may see or read in the news today, however, there was a hockey game last night and a series was decided. The Vancouver Canucks hosted Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, defending home ice against the Boston Bruins inside of Rogers Arena on Wednesday evening. Every home game in this series saw the home team win, and every game in Rogers Arena had been close.

Boston's hunger for glory certainly snapped those two patterns in half. With a push befitting a true champion, the Bruins dominated the aimless Canucks all over the ice. They didn't even need a barrage of shots, as Boston's shot total was only 20. That was still good enough to beat "Marquee" goaltender Roberto Luongo 3 times and pocket an empty-netter as the Bruins defeated the Canucks 4-0 to earn their first Stanley Cup since 1972.

Tim Thomas, Boston's netminder, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. He was praised as Boston's most consistent performer on the ice, and many agreed there was no one else who deserved it more.

Some may be wondering when I'm going to go in depth about the subsequent riots that broke out in the streets of Vancouver, but I'm going to admit right now that I'm not going to. That is exactly what the rioters want: attention. So yes, there were riots after the game: people were drunk, were high, were completely moronic, and now have cast a blight on the city that hosted the Olympics which will be a long time going away. Enjoy that. Moving on!

It is being reported that NBC got huge ratings for this game, which is good to hear. I enjoy hearing US TV bringing in good hockey ratings, because it's expected here in Canada, especially when A Canadian team is playing for the Cup. Boston is the 3rd Original Six team to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup in the last 4 years, next to the most recent Chicago Blackhawks last year, as well as our very own Detroit Red Wings in 2008. Congratulations to the Bruins for their victory!

Now, the wait for October is on...

One Game at a Time: Game 7 is Here

2011-05-12T12:48:00.000-07:00

A week ago, we'd have scarce believed it.

Tonight, we face an amazing opportunity.

With a "One game at a time" philosophy, the Detroit Red Wings have erased a 3-0 series deficit to tie their matchup with the San Jose Sharks and force a deciding Game 7. Only 7 other teams have rallied to tie such a series. Only 3 of those 7 have claimed victory. This evening, Detroit gets a chance to add another piece of history to their storied collection.

The Wings have improved as the series has progressed, and my hope is that the trend will continue. All the pressure now rests on San Jose, but that is no excuse to rest on our laurels. We still play to win.

One more game to make history, and progress toward another milestone: Cup #12.

Grit your teeth and come out playing hard, my sons, your faithful are behind you!

Let's Go Red Wings!!!!!!!!

Breaking the Mold of History

2011-05-08T16:49:00.000-07:00

Everything has looked eerily similar as far as the Red Wings' series against the San Jose Sharks goes: The team, the round, the records, the one-goal games. Things have been pretty much following the same pattern they did this time last year. If Detroit wishes to remain alive in this postseason, however, they need to break the cycle. This time last year, the Wings played their last game of the season, beaten and embarrassed, as they were tossed from the playoffs in 5 games in the Conference Semifinals.

Tonight, we of Wings Nation hope that this particular bit of history is done repeating. Tonight we hope to see a Red Wings squad, rejuvenated and refreshed by their recent victory, keep their Cup dreams alive.

Tonight, we take the reins of destiny and bend fortune to our will; otherwise, we watch the reins be taken from our hands for the last time, and the ride is over once more.

It's too early to shave, Wingnuts! Let's Go Red Wings!!!!!!!!!!

Shark Fin Soup with a Side of Sweet Revenge: Wings/Sharks Preview

2011-04-29T16:07:00.000-07:00

Wingnuts, we find ourselves in a familiar place at a familiar time of year. That's right, we've been rewarded for the Red Wings's postseason pounding of the Coyotes/Jets/Golden Seals/whatever the hell they're going to be by next year by being given a chance to even the score with the San Jose Sharks, the team who booted the Wings from the playoffs last year.

That's right, Sharks: We're back, and this time it's personal.

San Jose battled a beleaguered Los Angeles team that was hurting for offense up front with their main man Anze Kopitar out with injury. The Red Wings, however, are getting a couple of their main men back, as Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen are reportedly going to be good to go for Game 1 which goes down tonight in San Jose.

I feel that if the Wings can remember a lot of the little things they did against Phoenix, this series with SJ will be much different than last year, but only -IF-. The young guys need to keep being beasts, Todd Bertuzzi needs to make his presence physically known, and Pavel Datsyuk should be looking to put on a show every single game. Detroit is rested and ready, and we cannot afford to blow this opportunity to come out fresh and composed against a San Jose team that really struggled with the hurting Kings, something that totally sobered me as far as the lethality of the Sharks went.

One player to watch tonight will be Zetterberg. I'm hoping that he's as raring to make an impact as I think he'll be and comes back from his injury with a big first game in this series. Franzen might also be a key factor in these first two crucial road games, as he took the Sharks apart last year by himself in Game 4 of the Semis. My final pick to watch tonight is Darren Helm. I'll be curious to see who he zones in on this time around, same way he did on Ed Jovonovski in the Phoenix series. Whoever it is that Helmer targets in teal better start praying, because it's going to be hell for them over the next set of games.

It's the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it's the Conference Semifinals, and it's on tonight, Wingnuts!

Class is dismissed.

Let's Go Red Wings!!