Feb. 2 :: Strike up the music, the band has begun…

RISE AND SHINE, CAMPERS!
The Wings swing a bit more West through Canada, landing in Vancouver for the second of a four-game winning streak road trip. Puck drops at 10pm in the time zone that matters, and you can catch the game on Fox Sports Detroit or Sportsnet Pacific. It just so happens that today is Groundhog Day, so don’t forget your booties cuz it’s cooooooooooooooooold out there today!

JUST PUT THAT ANYWHERE PAL, YEAH GOOD SAVE!
:: Detroit dropped a nifty third period on the Flames, winning 3-1 on Tuesday evening.
:: Vancouver needed overtime to defeat the Hawks 3-2 on Tuesday.
:: This will be the third match up between the Wings and Nucks. The team split the first two, each winning at home. The most recent game was December 21st, and the Wings were 4-2 losers on that night. Your goal scorers that evening were Drew Miller (his 7th) and Todd Bertuzzi (his 4th but, you know, he’s an offensive force this season).

NED… RYERSON?
The Best Name Nominee is Aaron Volpatti. Because he can do this to me.

NOW DON’T YOU TELL ME YOU DON’T REMEMBER ME BECAUSE I SURE AS HECKFIRE REMEMBER YOU
No one in Vancouver used to play in Detroit. But, and I don’t have you’ve heard or not, Ryan Kesler is from Livonia. Also, David Booth is a Detroiter.

CHANCE OF DEPARTURE TODAY 100%
Todd Bertuzzi played over 500 games for the Canucks. It didn’t end well.

DID HE ACTUALLY CALL HIMSELF “THE TALENT”
Todd Bertuzzi :: Pavel Datsyuk :: Johan Franzen
Jiri Hudler :: Valtteri Filppula :: Henrik Zetterberg
Dan Cleary :: Darren Helm :: Drew Miller
Tomas Holmstrom :: Justin Abdelkader :: Jan Mursak

Nicklas Lidstrom :: Ian White
Brad Stuart :: Niklas Kronwall
Jakub Kindl :: Jonathan Ericsson

Jimmy Howard
Ty Conklin

Scratches
Patrick Eaves [jaw, LTIR]
Mike Commodore
Cory Emmerton

The TPL Name Game “Three Stars”
Just like last season, submit your nickname suggestions (follow the theme!), and we’ll use our Facebook page to allow people to vote for the best… the winner gets a free TPL t-shirt!
PETRELLA: Mikael “Aim High, You Don’t Want to Hit the Groundhog” Samuelsson
HOLLIS: Bachelor Partyin’
DISCH: Dany “Don’t Drive Angry! Don’t Drive Angry!” Heatley
STEVIE: Darren “I’m A God. I’m not THE God. I Don’t Think” Helm
BONUS: Todd “Do You Have Live Insurance? Because If You Do, You Could Always Use a Little More” Bertuzzi

I MAKE THE WEATHER!
:: Jimmy Howard and Pavel Datsyuk had the day off yesterday since they didn’t get a break over All-Star Weekend. Both will be in tonight.
:: Tomas Holmstrom is back in the lineup after missing the Calgary game with an inflamed knee, courtesy of an injection to provide artificial lubricant.
:: Congratulations to our Christopher J. Hollis, who is in Vancouver tonight celebrating his bachelor party with dear friends. If he calls after the game to discuss any of the following, we’ll be sure to record it and include it on the next TP:60: A) Todd Bertuzzi spin-o-ramas, B) Bullshit penalties, C) Alcohol intake, D) How much he loves, and deservedly so, Meg, or E) Fucking Stephane Auger, man.
:: We did a Groundhog Day post a few seasons ago, but I could literally do this for every game. I love that damn movie.

CINEMATIC INSPIRATION