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Sunday Odds/Ends
by IwoCPO on 03/30/08 at 08:01 AM ET
Comments (11)
Bubba’s in town today and he’s feeling frisky. Winning, competing, shutting out BJs, eyes on a first round matchup that would only lead to community pain in Nashville. Hasek’s starting, says he feels nifty. Mac’s sitting, but re-assumes role of team spokesman. No matter the circumstances, this phrase is not pleasant: “shot in the groin.” More on that, and I’m sure you’re happy. Gordie’s almost 80 and the celebration’s slated for the Joe today.
Dominik Hasek doesn’t want you to worry about him. Nothing to see here, feeling good. But Dom...the flu, the hip, the groin, the back, the age, the insanity. No way you can be fully healthy. No way.
“I’m feeling great,’’ Hasek said. “I feel like I am back in shape.’’
Oh. Ok.
Khan(!) astutely points out Hasek has played 7 of the Wings’ last 21 games. He also mentions that Dom himself has always said a heavy workload of games and practice prepares him better than any amount of rest could. So, three out of the next four games should do the trick. I’m sure he’ll be ready. Positive, in fact, just as long as he doesn’t miss any of this:
“From now on, I cannot miss any practice, any game, except for one back-to-back (Wednesday-Thursday), which I do not expect to play (both games),’’ Hasek said. “I have to be ready for every practice, every game, that’s the only way I can get into the best shape when the playoffs start.’’
I get it. What the Miracle said above, about feeling like he’s “back in shape” and “feeling great.” That’s kinda, you know, conditional. Somebody tell me one frigging reason I should be looking forward to the playoffs. Is there anything at all enjoyable about this experience?
Here’s a Homer update for you. Somebody stuck a sharp needle in his groin. Dude...dude. And that made him feel better. Of course it did. He got the shot, right in the groin, on Friday. Skated a little, stressed a lot.
I guess Khan(!) threw a hypothetical at him, something like...what if you took a sharp needle to the groin and the pain comes back?
“I don’t want to go there. This (shot) is going to work.’’
I hear ya Homer. Everyone looking forward to wondering if every shift he plays is his last this season? That’s the definition of fun right there. Waiting to see if Homer’s coming out on the power play. Waiting to see if he’s at the morning skate, if he’s in the lineup for Game 3. Ouch, a Pronger knee to the nuts. Woops, Roloson’s stick right...there. Wow, look at that...a Foote butt end. Ahhh, nevermind. I refuse to worry about any of that. Really.
Ok. Here’s the deal. Vancouver, Edmonton, the Dive, Bubba, Calgary, even Dallas. Any one could be the Wings first-rounder starting 12 April (that’s the date we heard earlier this week, but stand by because the DDC said this morning we start on the 10th. Could have been a typo. Imagine that). Of those six, I’d take Dallas first, Bubba second. No, Bubba first. Yes, that’s it.
I’m assuming you agree. I’m assuming you realize, as I do, that Nashville presents the easiest road to first round happiness. So...you’re feeling a little conflicted today, eh?
Nah.
Headline in the Tennessean this morning: “Win Could Help Wings Avoid Preds In Playoffs”.
“I’m pretty sure they don’t want to play us (in the playoffs), so they probably think this is a big game for them, too. They want to knock us out.’’
That’s your boy JP Dumont. Actually, JP, I’m betting the Wings really want to see you. More specifically, they’d kinda like to get to know Dan Ellis a little better. Let’s recap this one more time: Kipper, Luongo...or Ellis.
It really doesn’t matter to me that he’s shut out Columbus two games in a row (although he did turn away 43 the last one on Friday). We’d like to see young Dan, if it’s all the same to you JP.
No potential opening opponent matches up with Detroit in any area but goaltending. And, assuming Jose Three or Four (who’s was that? Hockey Chic? Brilliant) continues to play well, every team but Nashville holds a legitimate edge in the crease. Jesus, I feel dirty. No, even if 3/4 stays luke warm, Hasek’s still a better option. But, still...I’d rather see Bubba in round 1 than the Dive.
“Tomorrow’s game could have playoff implications with first-round matchups,” Red Wings forward Darren McCarty said. “Nashville’s fighting for their lives. We’re going to go out there and play hard. We want to go into the playoffs on a high note and doing the right things.”
Weird, eh? A quote from Darren McCarty talking about getting ready for the playoffs with the Wings. Speaking of Mac, he’s sitting today. So’s Samuelsson and of course so is Homer. Downey’s in and I’m assuming so is Hartigan. Hartigan. Hart-i-gan. Harti-gan. Harrrrr-tigan. Yep. Just did a little test. Any way I type it I still get pissed off. Answer me this: if Babcock’s trying to figure out if McCarty’s able to add something to the playoff mix, why is he out today and Hartigan in? Whatever. As Gramps would say, and does often, I’m not a gm and I’m certainly no coach.
Three teams have 86 points: Edmonton, Vancouver, Bubba. The Oil, though, have played 80 while the other two: 78. Tough hill. Vancouver is floundering to say the least. They have four left: Calgary twice, Dive and Edmonton...all at home. Bubba: us today, then two with the Bitter Blues and one with Chicago. If Bubba wins three of four, I think they’re in. No way Bobby and the ‘Nucks win out. Edmonton? If they win their final two, they’re still shafted if Bubba wins 3.
Got it?
As for the Wings? Dilemma time for Uncle Mike as he decides who to rest and when. Magic number is three for the President’s Trophy. So Detroit needs two more points, and San Jose needs to give up one point some time in the next four. Easy solution for Detroit: win today. San Jose: Phoenix, LA, LA, Dallas. Wings: Bubba, Chicago, BJ, Chicago.
“But the reason you want to win is so you have home ice,” said Babcock. “And saying that, our focus is getting our game ready—has been all year long and continues to be, so we don’t tend to change our focus.” Wings defenseman Chris Chelios said a quick Presidents’ clinch and early rest would be ideal for the Wings’ workhorses.
“Some guys obviously could benefit. The earlier the better,” Chelios said. “Guys like Pav and Hank and Nick and Raffi, those guys that have been logging a lot of ice time, it would be a good rest for them. Get them playing 12, 14 minutes as opposed to the 20, 25 they’re playing now.”
Clinch home ice. Rest everybody any chance you can. We downplay the President’s Trophy now, but remember losing it later. When? Like the first round when San Jose plows through Bubba in four and we’re sweating out a six gamer with Calgary.
Gordie turns 80 Monday. I’ve got a signed copy of “9” sitting next to me that I haven’t cracked open yet. Not sure why. It’s on a shelf next to a Howe-signed puck that I really don’t know what I’m going to do with. I’m not a big memorabilia guy. Maybe I’m waiting for my daughters to get older and explain to them who he was, show them the book and the puck and try to tell them about his place in hockey and Red Wing history. There’s a good chance I won’t be able to do him justice.
George Johnson/Calgary Sun
Rogers Sportsnet analyst John Garrett tended goal for the Whalers during those final competitive seasons of Howe’s 32-year career.
“Even at 50 or 51, you didn’t want to piss Gordie off,” says Garrett. “One night, I remember, Robbie Ftorek gave it to Mark (Howe) with his stick. Really bad.
“Next time we play them, two weeks later, they’re lining up to take a faceoff. Gordie, of course, just happens to be right beside Ftorek. Before they can even drop the puck, he wheels around and pitchforks Ftorek in the face.
“After the game, Don Blackburn, who was our coach—or maybe it was Harry (Neale)—says ‘Holy crap, Gordie, what was that all about?!’ “And Gordie says, ‘Didn’t you see the way he hit Mark two weeks ago?!’
Happy 80th Mr. Hockey.
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Comments
I never feel easy when Dom is in the net. I feel even worse when he goes behind the net. I swear he better not lose his stick or turn into “The Floppinator”. Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 03/30/08 at 10:51 AM ET
Chris -
Try earplugs. It works for me when I want to ignore someone! 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 03/30/08 at 11:10 AM ET
Ellis has played very well, but in the playoffs he is an unknown quantity. On the other hand, anyone with two active neurons in their cerebral cortex knows perfectly well what Luongo and Kipprrussoff (too lazy to look up the real spelling, so I gave him extra consonants) can do in the playoffs because they have a playoff resume.
The Flames have nothing to worry about in the goaltending department, although their goal-scoring has been inconsistent and spotty. Luongo has had a rough time lately, but the team doesn’t score worth spit for him. It reminds me of Randy Johnson a couple years ago for Arizona, where he had an ERA of what seemed like 1.05 but he lost every game 1-0 or 2-1. It was dreadful.
Edmonton is a fun team to watch, they have been getting decent goaltending so far, and they have players who can actually score. They would be well more than one handful for Detroit, no doubt, but the idea of Datsyuk and Zetterberg and Hemsky on the same ice surface is an intriguing concept.
With only two games to go in the season I think they’re out of luck, though. And Brian Burke was so hoping for a lottery pick in the Dustin Penner deal, too.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 03/30/08 at 11:22 AM ET
Hey, Chris from Columbia, if you don’t like us ignorant morons here in TN, just leave. Take your whine with you. You won’t be missed.
Posted by Bubba, That is STILL Funny! Really, it is. from Not Detroit, Thank God on 03/30/08 at 01:56 PM ET
I watched the Oil play yesterday and they were great. They clamped down against Calgary, looked dynamic offensively and, as B mentioned, had strong goaltending from Roloson. I have no desire to play them in the first round...far too chancy…
We’ll see about Nashville today, but I agree that they are the preferred opponent despite Chris’ vague and allusive post.
Live blog?
Posted by Osrt on 03/30/08 at 02:08 PM ET
meh. why is the sopcast channel always offline?
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 03/30/08 at 02:13 PM ET
Mmmmm....I think they should have done more with that Birthday tribute to Gordie than they did.
And, why is that man still “working”? (his word). Couldn’t the team put together a mil or two for a secure retirement, including taking care of Colleen?
Posted by Osrt on 03/30/08 at 02:15 PM ET
You’re right about Edmonton - they have been very solid, and it’s their young players and rookies that have been playing the best. Their veterans have been either injured or messing up.
Gordie Howe so does not look 80 years old.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 03/30/08 at 02:16 PM ET
my dad went to high school with Mark Howe, Gordie’s son. he used to cut across his lawn to get to school and apparently, Gordie used to yell at him from time to time. so my dad’s memories of him are less than favorable. just thought i’d add that funny little anecdote.
Posted by Alex from San Francisco on 03/30/08 at 03:01 PM ET
Osrt, sorry about the “vague and allusive post”, that’s just my opinion.
Oh, and Bubba, no one asked you so piss off, I’m glad you’re not from Detroit either.
Posted by Chris from Columbia, Tennessee on 03/30/08 at 05:36 PM ET
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Travel advantages aside, I still don’t want to see Bubba in the playoffs. For me, ideally it would be Dallas or the Dive. For me, living down here in Middle Tennessee, having to listen to these ignorant morons any longer than I have to is not worth the shorter plane ride for our boys. We all know how Turco goes fetal at the mere thought of having to stop us, Pavs especially. The Dive? Yeah, 3/4 has nothing for us either. I love how the ‘Turds can shut out the BJ’s 2 games in a row, and then have these delusions of grandeur. If anyone has been able to pad their stats in the Central division, it’s Bubba. They’ve won 14 of the last 15 games against the BJ’s and the one they lost was in overtime, I think. That’s 29 out of 30 points taken from ONE DAMN TEAM over the last 2 seasons. Hell, the Hawks and Bitters haven’t done that great against the ‘Turds recently either. What pisses me off is that every team in our division wants to beat us SO BAD, that they play their asses off against us, but then they act like they can barely skate against Nashville. It’s ridiculous, and then Nashville gets this big head about how they deserve to be in the playoffs with us. WRONG!!! Unfortunately, It’s not looking like I’m going to get my wish of seeing Bubba at home come mid-April, since Vancouver can’t seem to find a way to pull their heads out of their asses long enough to MAYBE win a hockey game.
Posted by Chris from Columbia, Tennessee on 03/30/08 at 10:00 AM ET