On the Wings

A few Red Wings related comments…

Kris Draper injured
During the second period of tonight’s game against San Jose, a puck deflected off of Chris Chelios’ stick and hit Draper in the face. I couldn’t tell from the TV if the puck hit him in the eye or just close to it. It certainly did not look pretty let me tell you. What we do know is that he got stitched up and he’s going to the hospital for precautionary measures. It didn’t look and doesn’t appear to be an injury on the magnitude of Steve Yzerman’s, but it isn’t just a scratch. Tomas Holmstrom was also hit by the eyebrow with a puck in tonight’s game, but received stitches and was back on the ice by the third period. Update (10/18): “He’s cut around the eye,” head coach Mike Babcock said. “I guess the bones are fine. They sent him for a CAT scan or whatever, but it sounds like he’s just fine and everything’s precautionary, so that’s real positive.” Sounds like Draper will be alright and everything is just for precautionary measures.

Wings defeat Sharks in OT
The Detroit Red Wings beat the San Jose Sharks with 50 seconds left in OT with a goal by Jiri Fischer, his third of the year. Brendan Shanahan and Mikael Samuelsson both scored power play goals for the Wings. Legace made 26 saves in the game.

Yzerman helping teen
The Detroit Free Press ran a feature a few days ago about Steve Yzerman’s effort to help Peterborough teen, Tommy Garrett, and his family raise money for expensive treatment after complications from a bone marrow transplant Tommy went through for leukemia. In the early 1980s, Yzerman spent a couple seasons playing for the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Aside from the Peterborough connection, Yzerman is Tommy’s favorite hockey player. Yzerman teamed up with Peterborough artist, Murray Henderson, who created 19 prints of Yzerman ($1000 each) and four artist proofs ($1500 each), all of which Yzerman autographed. There are 8 prints left. To purchase one or see what they look like, visit Henderson’s website. All the proceeds from the sale of those prints and proofs will go to the family to help them cover the costs of Tommy’s treatments.

“I know there has been strong support for Tommy in Peterborough so I’m pleased I was asked to get involved. Murray Henderson did a great job on the painting so I hope it helps raise even more money to help cover the costs associated with Tommy’s treatments out in Calgary,” Yzerman said.

Courtesy of MurrayHenderson.com

Game Give-Aways
Are any other NHL teams having more give-aways than normal at home games? From what I recall, the Wings don’t really give much out at games. Like every other opening night game, mini Stanley Cups were passed out to fans. At tonight’s game against San Jose, the Wings organization gave every person attending the game a free 2005-2006 Red Wings calendar. At Friday’s game against Anaheim, they will be passing out a Magnet Schedule courtesy of Belle Tire. I’m certainly not complaining, but where did this come from? I guess even the Wings believe they have to bring their fans back.