12/14 :: Red Wings vs. Hamil–Kansa–Phoenix. Just Phoenix.

On By mpetrella
Remember this tie-dye nightmare of a logo?





WHAT’S ALL THIS THEN?

Monday, December 14th, 2009. 7:30pm. Phoenix Coyotes @ Detroit Red Wings.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?
1. What — Bertuzzi can’t get me curly fries? Chump.
2. Red Wings riding a two-game streak, but have another injury in Darren Helm (oh noes!)
3. Phoenix is significantly exceeding expectations, proving its not a fluke after 30+ games.
NOW WHERE WERE WE?
The Wings and Yotes met in Phoenix on October 22nd. The Wings lost, in overtime, by a score of 3-2. Detroit got goals from Tomas Holmstrom and Brett Lebda. Derek Meech, Brad May, and Patrick Eaves were all healthy scratches (remember when we had healthy scratches?).

WHAT’S HAPPENED SINCE THEN
At the time, only Lilja and Franzen were injured. Filppula followed a few games later, and eventually the Wings would lose Williams, Kronwall, and Cleary. Leino fell out of favor with Uncle Mike, and Todd Bertuzzi tore a hole in the space-time continuum and conjured up some 2003 for us.

OH, HI AGAIN
Former Red Wing Robert Lang is now a Phoenix Coyotes. Perhaps he’ll be unbelievably lazy just being near old nemesis Mike Babcock.

MEMBA ME?!

The Wings have two former Desert Dogs – Brad May and Dan Cleary. May played a little more than two seasons in Phoenix (scoring 30 goals, I might add), while Cleary scored six goals over 68 games as a member of the Coyotes.

BEST NAME NOMINEE
I’m tempted to go with Vernon Fiddler, simply for the creepy Deliverance-like feel, but I think we all know the correct answer is Zbynek Michalek. Yes, Pat, a vowel sounds great.

THEIR LAST GAMES
–Detroit beat the Predators on Saturday, in overtime, by a score of 3-2.
–Phoenix defeated the Sharks, also on Saturday, the final score being 2-1.
RECORDS
–Detroit Red Wings :: 16-11-5 (3rd in Central, 9th in West) :: 9-6-2 at home.
–Winnipeg Jets :: 19-11-2 (3rd in Pacific, 6th in West) :: 7-6-2 on the road.
COYOTES YOU SHOULD KNOW
Shane Doan :: Scottie Upshall :: Ed Jovanovski :: Johnny Cash :: Keith Yandle :: Ilya Bryzgalov
EXPECTED LINEUP
Kris Newbury was called up to replace the all-of-a-sudden injured Darren Helm. Son of a bitch. Oy…that’s seven.

Datsyuk — Zetterberg — Holmstrom

Bertuzzi — Eaves — Leino
Miller — Abdelkader — Draper
Maltby — Newbury — May
Lidstrom — Rafalski
Stuart — Ericsson
Lebda — Meech
Howard (starts)
Osgood

Injury
Andreas “Ain’t No Sunshine” Lilja
Johan “Just the Two of Us” Franzen
Valtteri “Lovely Day” Filppula
Jason “Lean on Me” Williams
Niklas “Grandma’s Hands” Kronwall
Dan “Use Me” Cleary
Darren “Lonely Town” Helm
QUICK THOUGHTS
1. Can the Red Wings build on their current win streak, and make it three in a row for the first time since November 11-14?
2. Todd Bertuzzi has scored four goals in the past two games – including both winners. If he can keep up that pace while guys like Franzen and Filppula are recovering, the Wings may just get through this adversity yet. Since I know now that Bertuzzi reads TPL, how bout some Curly Fries big guy? It’ll really help relations in the Petrella-Bertuzzi Accord.
3. Speaking of which, the primary guys like Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk need to be the leaders on the ice. They’ve contributed in the form of assists, but it would be really swell if Z would start burying some of these chances he’s getting.
4. Ilya Bryzgalov is having a hell of a season, and has always been a hell of a goalie. Presumably he’ll be playing, so if the Wings can solve him, they should feel good about themselves heading into games against Tampa and Dallas.
5. Controversy alert! Despite Chris Osgood’s strong performance, Jimmy Howard gets the start again. He’ll have to match Osgood, since he’ll always be playing from behind in a goaltending duel.
WHAT WE LEARNED vs. the Predators
Lost makes more sense than Todd Bertuzzi.
COYOTE WE COVET (JJ Special)
Peter Mueller. For the record, Matthew Lombardi is the resident Italian and Sami Lepisto is Valtteri Filppula’s best friend.