Red Wings 4, Bruins 2: Post Game Snipes...

• I actually got to watch part of today's game on a real, HD TV. It brought tears of joy to my eyes. I sat at my desk starving for three hours because I wanted my lunch break to coincide with the third period of the game. I was more than prepared. I kicked back in the break room with a frozen dinner, my Wings hat from the last viewing party, and one of the last cans of Vernor's that I brought here from Michigan. The only thing that could've made it better is if it had been Ken and Mickey on the broadcast. Or if I hadn't been at work. You get the idea, though.
• I only got to watch the third, but it sure seemed like Datsyuk got knocked around a lot. It was uncharacteristic.
• Darren Helm had a great chance off of a rush in the third, but failed to convert. It's okay though; I'm pretty sure if he and Kris Draper had finished chances like that in the same game it would've caused a break in the space-time continuum.
• I kind of like it when the Wings play puck-possession hockey.
• I decided that the only thing I like about afternoon games is the fact that the lower bowl looks like it's full of fans in Wings gear instead of bored businessmen in work clothes.
• Remember that crazy run Bert went on last November/December? This kind of reminds me of that.
• I never, never, ever want Nick Lidstrom to retire. Never.

Hero: Todd Bertuzzi
Back-to-back two-goal games? Get this man a round of glitter.

Villain: Zdeno Chara
I know it's not his fault that he's tall, or that people keep talking about it, it's just that I'm tired of hearing about it. Yes, I get it. He's an extremely large person. Being tall isn't a skill though; it's an asset, but that doesn't mean the world.

Final Thought:
I usually hate NBC, but I could've kissed the tv when I turned it on and saw the Joe.

Red Wings vs. Bruins GP...

Red Wings: 33-16-6

Bruins: 31-17-7

Red Wing Zen:

Valtteri Filppula

12-19-31, +/- 1, 16 PIM

Point and Laugh:

Michael Ryder

16-15-31, +/- -4, 31 PIM

Red Wings vs. Bruins GP...

Red Wings: 32-16-6

Bruins: 31-16-7

Red Wing Zen:

Ruslan Salei:

1-8-9, +/- 3, 38 PIM

Point and Laugh:

Milan Lucic

23-14-37, +/- 17, 81 PIM

Red Wings vs. Predators GP...

Red Wings: 32-15-6

Predators: 28-19-7

Red Wing Zen:

Darren Helm

6-16-22, +/- 7, 8 PIM

Point and Laugh:

Steve Sullivan

10-10-20, +/- 3, 22 PIM

Red Wings vs. Predators GP...

Red Wings: 31-14-6

Predators: 27-18-7

Red Wing Zen:

Henrik Zetterberg

16-40-56, +/- 8, 28 PIM

Point and Laugh:

Shane O'Brien

2-6-8, +/- -5, 43 PIM

Weekly Wrap-Up Volume Fifteen...

Caption Mondays: TimFill had this week's best caption. I loved it.

"Darren, if you hit 88 out there, you will go back in time. It's a truth fact. You yoost can't do it."

Trivia Tuesdays: Ari Twice got this week's answer.

This week's question: Which player holds the Wings record for most powerplay goals in a single playoff series?

The Answer: Andy Bathgate had 5 in the Wings' series against the Blackhawks in 1966. He's tied for second place in league history behind only Chris Kontos with six.

Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets GP...

Red Wings: 31-13-6

Blue Jackets: 23-22-5

Red Wing Zen:

Jiri Hudler

4-4-18, +/- -7, 12 PIM

Point and Laugh:

Kristian Huselius

9-6-15, +/- -15, 8 PIM

Red Wings 7, Senators 5: Post Game Snipes...

• I wasn't going to do a recap since I only caught the third period, but then Mule went and did his Muletrick and I couldn't very well let that go by without mention.
• Now that it's after the All-Star break, Franzen evidently decided that it was time to kick things up a notch.
• At his best, Mule is unstoppable. He's like a force of nature when he puts his mind to it.
• What are the odds that I can get an Arby's down here to give me free fries tomorrow? Or that I can find a printer in time?
• The explanation for the Senators' no-goal in the third was just plain silly. Even on my grainy feed, I could tell that the refs' version of what happened there was nowhere close to reality. My feed was only getting video from the rink, so during commercials and post-game segments in the studio, I got random camera shots and audio from the on-site crew. After the game, Ken Daniels and Larry Murphy were ranting about how stupid the explanation was. Daniels said pretty much the same things everybody on twitter said. It was the right call, but not for the reason stated. It was nice to see that the guys up in the booth get as frustrated about silly things like that as we do.
• I'm working on a theory that the blizzard/snowpocalypse/snowmageddon/whatever you want to call it somehow time-machined the two teams back into the 80s for one night. I followed along with the first two periods via text messages, and trying to keep up with the game was a challenge. I had a lot of, “wait, what?” moments when I got back-to-back-to-back texts announcing goals.
• That moment when Z went awkwardly into the boards almost killed me. I was practically holding my breath until the next time I saw him out on the ice.
• This was the first five-goal game for a Wing since Fedorov did it back in 1996. I'll never forget that game because it was right after Christmas the year I got my first ever Wings jersey. I watched the game on the floor in front of the TV, wearing my brand new #91 jersey, and I was pretty much convinced that he scored all of those goals because of it.
• Henrik Zetterberg's streak of games in which he had at least two shots on goal has officially ended. Can we never speak of this useless stat again, please? Pretty please?

Hero: Johan Franzen
This needs no explanation.

Villain: Chris Neil
I just don't like him.

Final Thought:
It was nice to see Cleary back in the lineup.

Red Wings vs. Senators GP...

Red Wings: 30-13-6

Senators: 17-26-8

Red Wing Zen:

Kris Draper

4-2-6, +/- 1, 4 PIM

Point and Laugh:

Erik Karlsson

8-21-29, +/- -19, 26 PIM

Trivia Tuesdays Volume 15...

Which player holds the Wings record for most powerplay goals in a single playoff series?