Feb 9 :: And I guess that’s why they call it the Blues

On By mpetrella
Can YOU feel the love tonight?

WHAT’S ALL THIS THEN?

The Wings and Blues meet for the fifth (of six) times this season. So far, the Wings are 1-3 against the 13th place Blues. Awesome. Puck drops at 8pm Eastern. 
WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?
1. Johan Franzen comes back after missing the last 55 games with a knee injury. 
2. The latest on the trio of forwards injured in the Kings game: Homer is a maybe, SNP is a go, and Eaves is a no.
3. Jimmy Howard gets the start again, his sixth in a row and 24th start in the last 26 games. Mike Babcock cares not that you think he’s being overworked. 
NOW WHERE WERE WE?
The last time these two teams met was December 9th. It was a 1-0 shutout (yes, for real). Jimmy Howard was in net and Ville Leino (MEMBA HIM?!) was a healthy scratch for only the third time this season. The Wings were victims of yet another questionable call, on an apparent goal against Ty Conklin, but that doesn’t really narrow it down to jog your memory, does it? 
OH, HI AGAIN / MEMBA ME?! / BEST NAME NOMINEE
 :: Ty Conklin is a Blue now.
 :: Chris Osgood is a Red Wing now (sort of).
 :: Roman Polak and Carlo Colaiacovo are the BNNs.

THEIR LAST GAMES
–Detroit lost to L.A., in heartbreaking fashion, 4-3 on Saturday afternoon.
–St. Louis got whooped by Colorado, 5-2, on Monday.
RECORDS
–Detroit Red Wings :: 27-21-10 (3rd in Central, 8th in West) :: 12-13-6 on the road.
—The First Team Named After a Movie :: 25-25-9 (4th in Central, 13th in West) :: 9-16-5 at home
BLUES YOU SHOULD KNOW
Boyes :: McDonald :: Oshie :: Perron :: Backes :: Tkachuk :: Buddy Guy :: Kariya :: Eric Johnson
EXPECTED LINEUP
Zetterberg — Datsyuk — Franzen
Cleary — Filppula — Bertuzzi
Draper — Helm — May
Williams — Miller — Maltby
Lidstrom — Rafalski
Ericsson — Stuart
Lebda — Meech
Howard (starting)
Osgood
Nicknames courtesy of our good friend, Krononymous and her sarcastic love for Elton John. I added a few OBVIOUS ones (Osgood and Cleary).
Scratch
Oh hey, we’re back here again. There are not enough bodies to have a healthy scratch.
Injuries
Andreas “It’s Getting Late, Have You Seen My Mates, Ma Tell Me When the Boys Get Here” Lilja
Niklas “Don’t See Lights A-Flashing, He Plays By Sense of Smell” Kronwall
Tomas “You Better Get Back, Honky Cat” Holmstrom
Patrick “Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dancer” Eaves
Honorable Mentions (Too Good NOT to Mention)
Johan “But the Fever’s Gonna Catch You When the Bitch Gets Back” Franzen
Brad “You Can’t Plant Me In Your Penthouse, I’m going Back to My Plough” May
Brett “Hey Papa Legba, hoo-boo-be-do, Hey Papa Legba, No One Gonna Bother You” Lebda
Jonathan “I’m Not the Man They Think I Am At Home, Oh No No No, I’m a Rocket Man” Ericsson
Dan “God It Looks Like Daniel, Must Be The Clouds In My Eyes” Cleary
Ville “Philadelphia Freedom!” Leino
Chris “The Less I Say, The More My Work Gets Done” Osgood
QUICK THOUGHTS
1. If Homer can go, after all, it’ll likely be at the expense of Brad May. He’s a game time decision.
2. The Wings are on a bit of skid, and there aren’t many worse times to be on one.
3. Anyone else concerned about Kronwall’s tweak? This will be his third missed game in a row, after leaving early in two of the three games he’d played since his return from his 29-game injury. Feels an awful lot like the Wings are panicking a bit and rushing guys back maybe before they’re ready…
4. There are three games left before the Olympic break. I want all six points. 
5. Obligatory Simpsons/Elton John reference: “I know it’s not much, but it’s the best I can do. My gift is my song, and this one’s for Apu.” 
WHAT WE LEARNED vs. the Kings
Hell, even a three goal lead isn’t enough to feel comfortable. I liked the old NHL better.
BLUE WE COVET (JJ Special)
I asked JJ to come up with a Blue worth having. His answer was so obvious, I almost kicked myself for not thinking of it, but that’s why we have a resource like JJ:

He’s loyal, hard working, and he’s at least 30 IQ points smarter than Barrett Jackman: