Apr 9 :: You’re the Best…. AROUND!

Two games left…Detroit got no help from Phoenix last night. The Wings could STILL finish anywhere from fifth to eighth, pending the outcomes of other games.

2 :: CHI :: 80 GP :: 51 W :: 109 PTS [at Colorado tonight]

7 :: NSH :: 81 GP :: 46 W :: 98 PTS

8 :: COL :: 80 GP :: 43 W :: 94 PTS [vs. Chicago tonight; anything but a victory clinches 8th]

We were Wednesday. That’s where we were. The Wings won 4-3 against a Nashless Blowjay team that has nothing to play for except unsportsmanlike conduct minors. 

Oh weird, it’s like Donnie Darko’s intersecting universes thing right here… each of their last games was against the other. Trippy. 

–Detroit Red Wings :: 42-24-14 (2nd in Central, 6th in West) :: 17-14-8 on the road.

–Columbus Blowjax :: 32-35-14 (5th in Central, 14th in West) :: 20-12-8 at home.

Franzen — Datsyuk — Holmstrom

Bertuzzi — Zetterberg — Filppula

Eaves — Helm — Loins

Miller — Draper — Williams

Lidstrom — Rafalski

Kronwall — Stuart

Ericsson — Lilja

Howard (starting)

Osgood

Brett “We Both Know You Can Stomp Me, So Why Rub It In?” Lebda

Derek “Not Bonsai…BANZAI!” Meech

Kirk “Out. Of. Commission.” Maltby

Daniel “San” Cleary

Daniel “With an L” Cleary
Henrik “Everything Good” Zetterberg
Nicklas “We Make Sacred Pact” Lidstrom
Darren “You’re a Pushy Little Bastard Ain’t Ya” Helm
Niklas “Get Squish Like Grape” Kronwall

Brad “You… Pretty Okay, Too” Stuart
Jonathan “You All Wet Behind Ear” Ericsson
Jonathan “Afraid Facts Mixed Up” Ericsson
Jimmy “Five to One Problem, Too Much Ask Anyone” Howard

Patrick “You Karate Do ‘Guess So'” Eaves
Patrick “Hey, You Ever Get Into Fights When You Were a Kid?” Eaves

Brian “Why Can’t We Just Go Back to Jersey?!” Rafalski
Valtteri “No Get Hit” Filppula

Johan “Teacher Say, Student Do” Franzen
Andreas “Now Use Head for Something Other Than Target” Lilja

Mike “NO SENSAI” Babcock
Brad “No Such Thing as Bad Student, Only Bad Teacher” McCrimmon

Chris “Problem: Attitude” Osgood

Brad “No, the Problem is…I’m Getting My Ass Kicked Every Other Day” May
Dick “I Hate This Place! I HATE IT! I Just Want To Go Home. Why Can’t We Just Go Home?” Axelsson

Chris “You’ve Got Real Nerve Old Man” Chelios

Todd “Mercy is for the Week” Bertuzzi

Todd “A Man Confronts You” Bertuzzi

Todd “HE IS THE ENEMY” Bertuzzi

Todd “Put Him in a Body Bag YEEAAAHH” Bertuzzi

Todd “STRIKE FIRST STRIKE HARD NO MERCY” Bertuzzi
Todd “I Think You Not Concentrate Enough” Bertuzzi

1. Well I wasn’t expecting Howard again, considering Uncle Mike said Osgood will start again before the end of the season.
2. Speaking of which, so much for resting guys like Nick Lidstrom. He said it was his preference to continue playing, and he got his wish. He made what might have been the worst play I’ve ever seen him make in his career against Umberger, so I bet he goes for a tiny bit of redemption. Still a cyborg, though.
3. How long until Todd Bertuzzi winds up and blasts a slapshot into someone’s legs tonight? Also, he’s gotta score a goal each night (or have a patented random two-goal outburst) for me to lose my bet with Andy.
4. Non-Red Wings-related note: Mike Modano got a beautiful standing ovation in Dallas last night, moments before sending the game into overtime and netting the game-winner in the shootout. A personal hockey hero of mine, and American kids everywhere – particularly in Michigan – and if he decides to call it a career, we should all stand and applaud. 

It’s SAT time. Steve Mason : 76 seconds :: Chris Osgood : 17 seconds

JACKET WE COVET (JJ Special)