by true Citizens of Hockeytown
You may have noticed that the sidebar has been updated to include links for the second round as well as the schedule. If I missed anything, let me know.
Also, IwoCPO introduces us to a member of the Sharks blogosphere with a bit of a smackdown. Just remember, though, that long-time blogger PJ Swenson, proprieter of Sharks Page, off-sets the kind of blunted analysis Iwo lays bare there.
Okay, so maybe this is meant to poke fun at the Wings, but I got good laugh out of it anyway.
These guys have shown they’re a “team” in the highest sense (a fellowship, if you will), so in some ways it’s an apt comparison. Still, let’s hope they’re on their way to gain a ring, rather than to “destroy” one (to carry the analogy further).
As for the Photoshop work there, it’s pretty good. If you know anything about the movies, the creater made some interesting choices with their Red Wing-to-character placement (see original). I’m just trying to identify the little Wings on the right and left. I see Lang and Maltby, I think, but I can’t tell who the others are. Any ideas? (via. Jes Golbez).
Greg Wyshynski has a great piece posted at the NHL Fanhouse on the debate over whether or not to alter the NHL’s postseason superregulation play by eliminating continuous full-lenth, 5-on-5 overtimes in favor of some kind of half-baked, mediot-invented format. Obviously, I’m against any change to the system. NHL playoff overtimes as they stand, however stressful they may be, are an institution, in my mind. I wonder what the players, the group those who are trying to change the system are ostensibly protecting, think about the whole debate.
Bruce MacLeod has a nice post up on player matchups thus far in the series, with an emphasis on last night. It’s well worth checking out.
By posting items beyond updates from practice or immediate reactions to games, Bruce MacLeod is showing that he’s taking his new blog somewhat more seriously than his colleagues. His latest post is an interesting one that provides numbers on the penalties drawn per player thus far in the Wings/Flames series. Perhaps of more interest is the bottom section, which lists all the Detroit players who drew penalties during the regular season. Who was #1? Henrik Zetterberg, with 38.
These kinds of things give you some idea of who’s being most active offensively (defenders are more likely to commit penalties against standouts) as well as who’s getting under the opposition’s skin the most (such as Kirk Maltby, who drew 33).
(Cross-posted at Kukla’s and Abel to Yzerman by George Malik and IwoCPO)
The bloggers from Abel to Yzerman, Behind the Jersey, Gloveside, Gorilla Crouch, Kukla’s Korner, On The Wings, and Snapshots are proud to announce our first annual playoff pick ‘em contest!
Here’s how the contest works:
A. Pick the four teams that you believe will advance to the Conference Finals (1 point per team).
B. Then Pick the two teams that you believe will advance to the Stanley Cup Finals (5 points per team).
C. Pick the Cup-winner (25 points).
D. Pick the number of goals that will be scored in the Stanley Cup Final (tiebreaker).
We’re awarding $65 for a gift certificate to the online hockey retailer of your choice, or as a donation to your favourite charity, to the person who gets the most points!
Our second-place winner will receive $35 for a gift certificate or a donation to your favourite charity.
Our third-place winner will receive a Sports Illustrated Steve Yzerman commemorative issue and a jersey card of their favourite player.
Send your educated guesses, name, and contact information to us at redwingsbloggers [at] gmail dot com
Good luck, and Go Wings!
Christy has a good preview of the Wings/Flames first round matchup posted. Be sure to check it out.
Brennan at Gloveside.net has posted one of the coolest features I’ve seen in a while: a gallery of pictures of the making of the new Goride Howe statue that has just been delivered to Joe Louis Arena. Be sure to check it out.
Abel to Yzerman has the interview. Not time to freak out, but it is maybe a little worrisome. I’m just going go ahead and believe it’s only because the team wants a green light from this guy to go ahead with their plan to play Hank. You know, “He feels great and ready to play, we just thought we’d fly you in to verify that he’ll make it through the playoffs.”
It can’t be a “What?! Your back is hurting again?! Quick, call the specialist and charter a plane!” thing or else Chelios wouldn’t be talking about it. Hank hasn’t been skating around the rink at “100 mph” if his back going to keep him out of the postseason, and if there was a setback in practice, even the “Deep Diggers” so many of us have so little faith in would have had something about it.
The team knows these games mean little and to insert him now would be a fiasco if some donkey who just got his clubs down from the attic decided to practice his golf swing on Zetterberg’s vertibrae. At least let Hank participate in meaningful hockey if he’s going to have to deal with cross-checks to the lower back.
If by this time next week he hasn’t suited up and doesn’t look any closer to doing so, then it’s time to freak out.
Update (2:30 PM): Helene St. James reports that Pavel Datsyuk “denies Hull’s claim,” about his relationship with Mike Babcock.
You might say, “Of course that’s what Pavel’s going to tell her. He can’t speak out against his coach now.” And that may be true. But, I’m inclined to think there’s nothing there and that if Pavel leaves, it’ll be because he’s offered more somewhere else, not because of a problem with the organization. Not that his leaving for money would be any easier to take, by the way. - Matt
… Well, I’ve got internet access again, but I haven’t got much to say today. I caught the game and was impressed with the Wings’ effort, but the most important thing about it was the fact that the win put them three points ahead of Nashville with three games left for both teams. That’ll be a tough lead for the Predators to overcome unless the Wings totally fall apart this week.
Dave at Gorilla Crouch has a good game recap posted. He was also interviewed by Christy for her Behind the Blog series.
… Anyone notice that the commentators for the game yesterday on NBC spent very little time actually calling the plays? It seemed to me like a group of guys getting together to have a few beers and talk about everything but what was going on down on the ice. Now, for a long-time fan, that’s okay because I don’t need a play-by-play man to interpret the game for me, but for a new fan or someone just flipping through the channels, I don’t they’re interested in three guys gaffawing at Brett Hull zingers.
… Speaking of Brett Hull, the man spoke out of his rear end yesterday and proclaimed Pavel Datsyuk won’t be returning to Detroit next season. Apparently, he has a problem with Mike Babcock. This coming from the man who never got along with a coach in his life. Hmm. Well, we’ll see what happens, Brett.
As IwoCPO’s readers have pointed out, Datsyuk is building a house in Birmingham, he has a leadership position on one of the league’s elite teams, plays with one of the best young players in the game in Henrik Zetterberg, and has chances to win that he wouldn’t have in a place like Washington. I think Pavel wants to be back in Detroit, but I admit his chances aren’t so great as long as he gives his agent, Gary Greenstin, such a free hand in negotiations. That guy could very well ruin all.
… Writing on the new AOL Fanhouse NHL blog, Eric McErlain has a question about a player who, as his wandering habit has become more pronounced, has become a little bit of a concern for me over the past couple weeks: Dominik Hasek. Eric asks whether or not Dom is the Wings’ weakest link and points out that he has the save percentage of Olaf Kolzig. Eric’s right, one of the ugly truths about Dom this year has been his save percentage, and his corresponding penchant for giving up a backbreaking goals in the midst of strong defensive efforts by his teammates.
Still, I don’t know that you can necessarily call Dom the Wings’ weakest link. He is a goalie who thrives when he is busy and the downside of the Wings’ system is that he’s often spending long stretches of the game bored. However, when the defense isn’t so good and he is getting work, he’s generally been very good. So, when the defense isn’t playing up to snuff, Hasek generally covers for them, and vice versa. It just gets ugly when neither are playing well.
I think, in some backwards sort of way, the thinning of the Wings’ defense may be a good thing for Hasek, as he’ll see more action, and thus be less bored and prone to wandering.
If you’re looking for a weakest link, look at Robert Lang or Andreas Lilja.
… Eric also answers a question of Paul Kukla’s about a former Red Wing, one of the best ever to wear the Winged Wheel. Couldn’t agree more, Eric.
