On the Wings

Update (1:57, 02. Nov): Greg Gaz of The Blue Note Blog eventually did post a well-written response to the game in the evening on Sunday. Gaz toes the “soon-to-be Dead Wings” line and looks forward to a day where the Blues will be the dominant team, thinking it’s going to be sooner rather than later. Sorry, Greg, the Wings aren’t done quite yet. The Blues have just shown that they don’t have to be doormats anymore, while the Wings are showing that they still know how to win. - Matt

Update (7:46 PM): … Here’s the highlight reel for the goals from last night, including some good looks at Filppula’s first, via the NHL’s Highlight Machine. - Matt

… In his report on the game last night, Ted Kulfan confirms that Mike Babcock gave Chris Chelios a rest due to it being the second of back-to-back games, not because of some injury. I basically thought that was the case, though it’s good to hear for sure.

… George Sipple reports that the team had a special meeting yesterday morning where they focused stritctly on having confidence on the penalty kill. It was Mike Babcock’s response after the Wings gave up three power play goals on seven chances to the Dallas Stars Friday night. Apparently, the meeting had the desired effect, as they were perfect 5-for-5 on the PK against the Blues.

… According to Sipple, Robert Lang had to get eight stitches under his eye aftertaking Brett Lebda’s stick to the face in the first period.

… Sipple wins the award for lamest pun with the headline to his report on the game:

MANNY THANKS: Wings score early on ex-goalie Legace in 3-2 win over Blues

… No reaction to the game yet at the only Blues blog I could find, The Blue Note Blog.

… I’d say the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Jeremy Rutherford is a little hard on Manny Legace today for saying he wasn’t sharp last night, but I wholly agree with him when he says the defense wasn’t so hot. Legace stopped what he could and was left out to dry on the Wings’ goals.

… Before the game began last night, we were reminded of the Tigers’ loss in the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals the night before when Cardinals manager Tony La Russa came out to center ice for a ceremonial puck drop. Not that it will make Tigers fans feel any better, but the Wings’ win is at least a small amount of revenge.

… Gloveside.net, after basically telling Manny to shut up and play, addresses concerns over Henrik Zetterberg in a post today. Basically, they point out that, while Hank isn’t scoring, he’s doing all kinds of things that don’t show up on the scoresheet, and is being invaluble to the team. He’ll be contributing offensively soon, as well.