Apr. 3 :: Way back up in the woods, among the evergreens

SCHOOL DAY
Wings and Wild. Another matinee — this one’s 5pm Eastern on Sunday. Back home at the Joe.

TOO MUCH MONKEY BUSINESS
Detroit is 2-0-1 against Minnesota this season. The most recent was a 2-1 shootout win on February 20th. Nicklas Lidstrom was the only goal scorer in regulation and Todd Bertuzzi, pugilist, won it in the shootout.

JOHNNY B. GOODE
Cal Clutterbuck. Part-time hockey player. Full-time porn ‘stache grower.

I’M TALKING ABOUT YOU
:: Detroit won in overtime, 4-3, yesterday in Nashville.
:: Minnesota lost to Tampa, 3-1, on Saturday.

SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN (and Jonathan Ericsson)
By special request, the TPL Glossary is ready to jailsex your eyes.
Cleary — Zetterberg — Datsyuk
Franzen — Filppula — Bertuzzi
Holmstrom — Modano — Abdelkader
Hudler — Helm — Eaves

Lidstrom — Ericsson
Kronwall — Stuart
Kindl — Rafalski

MacDonald
Howard

IT GOES TO SHOW YOU NEVER CAN TELL
Chris Osgood [bergina]
Niklas Kronwall [shoulder]
Drew Miller
Kris Draper

The TPL Name Game “Three Stars”
Disch: Marian “I Said Go, Go, Go, Little Queenie” Hossa
Petrella: Darren “I Put My Foot on the Tank and Began to Roll. Moanin’ Siren, ‘Twas the State Patrol” Helm
Hollis: Jonathan “Bye Bye Johnny” Ericsson
*Now it’s up to you! Think up your best names and throw them in the comments — the best one will be shared for all to enjoy on the TPL Facebook Page. The best of the best will be pitted against one another at season’s end, and the winner takes home a TPL Shirt of their choice.*

ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC
:: Back-to-back games are tricky, but this is the last time the Red Wings will have to endure it this season.
:: A win in regulation clinches the division for the Red Wings.
:: Badly-missed Pavel Datsyuk was supposed to return for this game, but the Wings were singing a different tune following the Predators game. He’ll be a game-time decision, but his return would be a welcomed addition, particularly after an emotional come-from-behind win that took everything Detroit had.
:: Haven’t heard about goaltenders but I’m going to assume that MacDonald is playing — potentially for the last time this season.
:: In case you missed it earlier this week, I did an interview with Christina (also known as @franzenmuth) for NHL Hot Stove. Check it out, much fun was had.

WHAT WE LEARNED AGAINST THE PREDATORS
The Red Wings aren’t a team you want to play when they’re pissed off.