Red Wings vs. Canucks GP...

Red Wings: 8-2-1

Canucks: 7-3-2

1. How will the Wings look playing in the second night of a back-to-back?
2. The second line has been kind of quiet over the last couple of games. I want to see them have a big night tonight.
3. Ericsson's looked pretty good in the couple of games he's played since coming back from his injury. I guess he doesn't want to lose his job to Kindl after all. Can he keep it up tonight against a better Vancouver team?

Red Wing Zen:

Henrik Zetterberg

3-10-13, +/- 8, 4 PIM

Point and Laugh:

Aaron Rome

0-1-1, +/- -1, 2 PIM

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to watch the game tonight so there may or may not be a recap.

Red Wings 3, Oilers 1: Post Game Snipes...

• Abby got the scoring kicked off early with his second goal of the season. Getting him back in the lineup has made a huge impact on the third line.
• Jiri Hudler, on the other hand, didn't really do a whole lot on the fourth line.
• My rant of the night centers around the two second period fights. Both of them were for stupid reasons. What was worse was the way the linesmen jumped in to break them up. In the first fight, Ericsson was dominating until the linesman grabbed him and tied him up so he couldn't get his arms free. Brule took that opportunity to land several punches while Rig couldn't defend himself. It was dangerous. The exact same thing happened during the second fight, except that time it was the linesman tying up the Oiler. If a fight's going to be broken up, both guys need to be tied up. Otherwise you're just asking for trouble.
• You know what else is stupid? The instigator rule.
• Khabibulin made a spectacular, highlight-reel save as he was laying flat on his back and reached up and batted a puck over the top of the net. It had everyone sitting around in my living room yelling in amazement.
• Jimmy Howard continued to be lights out. It was about this time last season when we all decided that he was worthless and was just filling a spot on the bench until one of the other prospects was ready to take over. My what a long way he's come.

1. The big mystery is who will be sitting tonight. Did the third line's performance on Wednesday change Babcock's mind about putting Hudler back in the lineup? Will he replace a fourth-liner? Will he sit Modano after he played his best game of the season?
Drew Miller drew the short end of the stick and had to sit out tonight. Hudler didn't accomplish a whole lot in his return to the lineup. It'll be interesting to see who ends up sitting tomorrow night. I would've bet on Modano with it being the second game of a back-to-back, but he's played much better the last couple of games. It might be hard to sit him now.

2. The other question mark is Johan Franzen. He sat out practice yesterday, and is iffy for the game tonight. Will he be able to go?
He was indeed in the lineup, but didn't contribute much offensively. The second line was pretty quiet tonight.

3. The Oilers are last in the Conference. Usually the Wings don't bring their A-game for matches like this. Will we get to see the team that dominated Calgary on Wednesday, or are they going to sleep through the start of the game?
I thought it was a good effort all around. It wasn't quite as dominating as the game on Wednesday, but the Wings got the job done.  Even when it was tied, the Oilers never really seemed to be in the game.

Hero: Dan Cleary
He ended up with a goal and two assists for the night. It's nice to see him finally getting rewarded for the hard work he's been putting in on the ice. The last couple of games have really showcased how valuable he can be.

Villains: Don Henderson and Jay Sharrers
Breaking up those fights the way they did was just wrong. Stupid, dangerous, and wrong.

Final Thought:
I love how much happier this season makes me than last year's did.

Weekly Wrap-Up Volume Two...

Caption Mondays: My favorite caption this week was submitted by Sara from A Neuie Perspective. Hide your kittens, Cleary!

C Bear: What do you mean by am I looking for a cat-sitter?
TAWD: Oh nothing, just curious...
Eaves: Uh oh, not this again
Salei:*cough* Don't do it *cough*

Trivia Tuesdays: Andy won this week's trivia quick draw. That makes the leaderboard:

Andy: 2
The rest of the world: 0

It's my understanding that Andy is literally online every waking moment, so challenging him for the lead here is going to be tough. The question this week was: The Wings are tied for the league record for fewest goals scored in a seven-game playoff series. Who did they play? How many goals did the Wings score?

Answer: The Wings faced the Leafs in 1945. Each team scored nine goals in the seven-game series. Sadly, Toronto ended up winning Game Seven.

Red Wings vs. Oilers GP...

Red Wings: 7-2-1

Oilers: 3-5-2

1. The big mystery is who will be sitting tonight. Did the third line's performance on Wednesday change Babcock's mind about putting Hudler back in the lineup? Will he replace a fourth-liner? Will he sit Modano after he played his best game of the season?
2. The other question mark is Johan Franzen. He sat out practice yesterday, and is iffy for the game tonight. Will he be able to go?
3. The Oilers are last in the Conference. Usually the Wings don't bring their A-game for matches like this. Will we get to see the team that dominated Calgary on Wednesday, or are they going to sleep through the start of the game?

Red Wing Zen:

Drew Miller

0-1-1, +/- -4, 0 PIM

Point and Laugh:

Nikolai Khabibulin

3-5-1, 1 SO, 3.44 GAA, .897 SV%

Red Wings 2, Flames 1: Post Game Snipes...

• I'm still baffled by the high-sticking penalty that Dan Cleary drew in the first period. There wasn't a call. Then there was a call. Then the wrong guy was in the box. Then everything worked out the way it was supposed to and benefited the Wings. It doesn't quite compute. I blame Brad Watson.
• Modano finally picked up goal #2 as a Wing. The whole third line had a really good night tonight. It'll be interesting to see how things turn out when Hudler's back in the lineup on Friday.
• The penalty kill looked phenomenal tonight. The powerplay...not so much. The Wings need Rafalski back.
• Modano and Abdelkader scored on almost the exact same shot.
• Salei's high-sticking penalty near the end of the third was definitely a penalty. What I didn't understand was the fact that there was no call when his leg was taken out from underneath him from behind. Seems to me that if that hadn't happened, there wouldn't have been a high stick.

Hat Trick:
1. The Wings kick off a roadtrip out west tonight in Calgary. Here's hoping they get off on the right foot.
It was a solid effort tonight. I feel like the score was closer than the game was.  The Wings looked good and the Flames never really seemed to get anything going.

2. Jimmy Howard's back from his brief back spasm-y hiatus. How will he look in his return?
He looked great. He didn't seem to miss a beat at all. So far this season, Jimmy's been easing everyone's minds.

3. Also making his return is everyone's favorite defenseman, Jonathan Ericsson. Will he make a case to stay in the lineup when Rafalski returns, or is Kindl going to step up and steal a spot?
I didn't really notice either of them tonight. For mistake-prone, young defensemen, that's definitely a plus.

Hero: Dan Cleary
Cleary was everywhere tonight. Everywhere. I was sure he was going to score with the way he was playing, but he settled for an assist on Modano's goal.

Villain: Mark Giordano
he scored Calgary's lone goal to put them ahead in the first period.

Final Thought:
Murph gurgle. Tell me that didn't just give you the heebie jeebies.

An Ode to the Grinders...

My latest piece for The Fourth Period posted this morning.  What started out as a farewell to Maltby turned into a tale about Detroit and our love of the Wings' grinders.  I hope it's not too sappy for you sunshines.  Check it out here.

Red Wings vs. Flames GP...

Red Wings: 6-2-1

Flames: 6-5-0

1. The Wings kick off a roadtrip out west tonight in Calgary. Here's hoping they get off on the right foot.
2. Jimmy Howard's back from his brief back spasm-y hiatus. How will he look in his return?
3. Also making his return is everyone's favorite defenseman, Jonathan Ericsson. Will he make a case to stay in the lineup when Rafalski returns, or is Kindl going to step up and steal a spot?

Red Wing Zen:

Todd Bertuzzi

2-7-9, +/- 6, 6 PIM

Point and Laugh:

Matt Stajan

1-7-8, +/- 1, 2 PIM

TP:60 Episode 3...

The latest episode of TP:60 posted this afternoon for your listening pleasure.  Check it out here.  Saler joins Hollis and Petrella for a discussion that includes Chris Osgood's play, Helm's Halloween costume, and the Kindl/Ericsson debate.

Trivia Tuesdays Volume 2...

The Wings are tied for the league record for fewest goals scored in a seven-game playoff series. Who did they play? How many goals did the Wings score?

Post your answers in the comments section.  Answers will be up Friday, along with the best caption of the week.  As always, happy googling.

Caption Mondays Volume 2...

This week's edition of Caption Mondays features TAWD and Cleary, with Eaves and Salei in the background.  I snapped it Saturday night before the Predators game.  Have at it.