At least make their heads bleed like the picture of The Captain you took down!!

Posted by dougie on 12/27/07 at 10:02 AM ET

I had to read your intro twice because I thought you stated:  “Someone was caught with their kilt off” which would have made perfect sense.

Off-kilter—yes.  Sadly, the days of pure hatred with the ‘Nique are over.  No longer is there that great sense of anticipation of a competitive tilt, complete with fisticuffs; every player on the ice throwing down the gloves in melee—unless you turtle.

Depressing to see this once great rivalry die.  There simply is no more hatred with the ‘Dive.  Of course, that certainly doesn’t imply that we can’t continue to make fun of them, it just means it isn’t quite so enjoyable to do so.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 12/27/07 at 11:01 AM ET

Of course rivalry means competitive hockey.  The ‘Dive just aren’t living up to that standard; going 1-2-1 at home against the Red Wings the past two seasons and 2-5-1 overall against them.  Maybe if they didn’t spend so much time on thier off-ice wardrobe; they’d get in the game.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 12/27/07 at 11:09 AM ET

Nice header Chief!  Well, it is snowing like crazy this morning and I came in to work with my Wings flag flying and it barely even registered with people.  My daughter will be attending the game with me tonight which is something I would not have allowed just a few years ago.  Times have changed.  We are supposed to get up to 10” of snow today so it may really affect attendance tonight.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 12/27/07 at 11:13 AM ET

Hey HockeyChic, I hope you enjoy the game tonite (lucky you) with your daughter.  Your statement about not taking her years ago speaks volumes about how the intensity of this one-time rivalry has passed. 

Alas—there is no team to hate.  And its not like you can re-invent that passionate hatred either.... maybe the poultry will become the team to loathe.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 12/27/07 at 11:26 AM ET

...maybe the poultry will become the team to loathe.

Don’t sell Chicago short.  They are young, but extremely talented, and play very well against the better teams (Detroit, Ottawa) - once they gain the experience to play like that all the time, Kane and Toews and Sharp will give the Wings a run for their money (provided they stay Blackhawks for a good long while).

The Chicago fans already have the hate thing down pat.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/27/07 at 12:33 PM ET

I was talking about the rivalry with one of my long time friends and we were talking about the lineups that both teams used to field and how stellar they were.  It was a pleasure just to be at those games to see the level of talent, not to mention the hatred.  I would say the Wings still post an extremely talented lineup (in a post Cap world anyway).  The Avs have some good talent as well but again, it is nothing like the caliber of years past.  He thought that was the main reason the rivalry has faded.  I’m not sure I buy that one, I think it is time… No more McCarty, Fraude LePuke, Roy, etc.

BTW, Sakic is out for tonight’s game.  They are saying he has a “groin” injury but the rumor around town is that he has a separated shoulder.  Ryan Smyth will return to the lineup, would have liked to have seen him and Homer go head to head. Don’t know if the Hairbag (Theodore) or Budaj is in goal for the Avs.  The Dive have been playing better of late but their defense is still very suspect.  I look for Dats to skate circles around Scott Hannan once again!

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 12/27/07 at 12:55 PM ET

I think Dougie hit on it.
I have been admiring the front page of THN for the last few weeks with first Hank, and then, Lidstrom.  Now I have to look at Sundin’s bald pate.

Posted by w2j2 on 12/27/07 at 01:12 PM ET

Sure, pick on the bald guys...where’s the Ball-O-Shine-O again? 

Y’know, the rivalry may have faded, but as Bill shows, it just takes a little bit of a jab here or there, as we’ll probably see on the ice tonight, and the old competitive fires stir right up, albeit not with the same intensity as back in the day.  It really is too bad that Homer won’t be planting himself in front of Flanders, I mean Budaj. 

Here’s betting that Ian “Derriere” Laperriere does something stupid tonight.  I want the over-under on a Lappy-Downey fight…

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 12/27/07 at 01:49 PM ET

George, I think after last nights poor showing by the Wings “role-players” in their “physical play” department—you just might get your wish.  I understand that Mule isn’t known for his pugilistic skills—but Good Golly gee—that was pretty pathetic.  Downey and company have got to do a much better job of “policing” the play out their and sending a message to the opposition.  I think tonite they will, at least I am hopeful they will.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 12/27/07 at 02:03 PM ET

Oh my!
That header on A2Y takes the cake!

I just want to remind everyone what the Wings are getting into tonight:

ST. PAUL, Minn.—A Denver man who witnesses say ripped the head off a tame duck that lived in a pond in a hotel lobby was charged Monday with a felony count of animal cruelty.

A police officer said that Scott D. Clark, a guest at the Embassy Suites Hotel in St. Paul, cornered the duck early Saturday, ripped its head off and turned to onlookers and said: “I’m hungry. I’m gonna eat it.”

http://www.thedenverchannel.com:80/news/14187801/detail.html

Posted by w2j2 on 12/27/07 at 03:55 PM ET

And this:

A 27-year-old man who was posing as a woman when he was arrested by Denver police during a prostitution sting has been charged with prostitution with knowledge of being infected with HIV or AIDS. Darren Garcia is being held in lieu of $50,000 bond on the felony charge.

According to a police probable-cause statement, officers were running a sting Thursday night because of community complaints when an undercover officer stopped at East Colfax Avenue and Josephine Street. Garcia climbed into the officer’s car and offered to perform a sex act for $30, police said. Garcia had long hair and makeup and was wearing an Avalanche jersey, according to authorities.

http://deadspin.com/sports/male-prostitutes/who-has-colorado-avalanche-fever-279803.php

Posted by w2j2 on 12/27/07 at 04:06 PM ET