Chief, best of luck with those slippery bastards from verizon. I, however, can’t wait until the game. Its going to be something to see Mac back on the ice with the winged wheel.

I can’t beleive the SoGay attendees. It troubles me to have that type of populus so close to my front door…but then I remember the same type of people are down the road from me. Ah well…

Posted by eyesris from Asheville, NC on 03/21/08 at 08:46 PM ET

Too bad you can’t just fire a warning shot across the bow of Verizon headquarters to “encourage” them to hook up your house as a test before expanding their coverage.  I expect the Navy would frown on using their property for such frivolous purposes, though. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 03/22/08 at 06:37 AM ET

Meanwhile, if Friday genuinely is D-Mac’s first game back, I have to offer wooden hook-shaped incense and frankincense ice to the hockey gods in hope that it might be shown on NASN.  I absolutely loathe incomprensible global contractual broadcast deals.  Sleep with one eye open, Gary.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from The Church of Our Lord Gordie Christ on 03/22/08 at 10:32 AM ET

Andrew, I wouldn’t worry too much about it.  Being cleared to play and being inserted into the lineup by Babcock are two different things.  If McCarty still hasn’t had a chance to run drills with the team, I wouldn’t be terribly surprised to see Drake/Downey or one of the Griffins in his place until he’s had a couple of full practices under his belt.

But just in case, Chief, I suggest you start experimenting with those proxy servers now.

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 03/22/08 at 11:28 AM ET

I expect the Navy would frown on using their property for such frivolous purposes

Then someone should explain to the Navy that this particular purpose is anything but frivolous.

Posted by BobTheZee on 03/22/08 at 12:21 PM ET

Then someone should explain to the Navy that this particular purpose is anything but frivolous.

Well, that would depend on if his superior officer is a hockey fan, wouldn’t it?

(Or whatever the terminology is - I know enough not to call a ship a boat, unless it is a submarine, but don’t know what the ranks are.)

Maybe they could pass it off as a live-fire training exercise or something.  I mean, how do they know for sure the guns work unless they shoot them once in a while? 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 03/22/08 at 04:22 PM ET

Andrew, I wouldn’t worry too much about it.  Being cleared to play and being inserted into the lineup by Babcock are two different things.

Let’s see. The Joe currently is about 75% full for home games and you have the option of inserting D-Mac into the lineup with four home games to go.

Hmmm.
No D-Mac = 75% full.
With D-Mac = 100% + standing room sold. Gosh. That’s a tough one.

If Mac can play without risking futher injury, he’s in the lineup. No doubt about it.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 03/22/08 at 07:18 PM ET

Good point, OTC.  Part of the reason for bringing a sentimental favorite like D-Mac back was to get the butts of sentimental fools like me into seats at the Joe.  As long as he’s not a defensive liability, I expect he’ll do five to ten minutes a night on the fourth line to loud cheers for the first few shifts.

I still probably won’t be able to watch it.  Lousy Bettman.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from nowhere near the Joe, unfortunately... on 03/23/08 at 05:29 AM ET

Things are looking up a bit, I think.  Z and Datsyuk playing well, Franzen becoming a force, Hasek playing well on Saturday.

I’m still on the stress train, but getting all of these guys back, plus having the four days off between the end of the regular season and playoffs (I think that was in the Free Press today) makes me feel better.  I think we’ll destroy teams like St. Louis and other central division teams down the stretch.

I’m surprised A2Y readers aren’t wondering if the Kilpatrick scandal will impact the Wings?  I’m kidding, of course.

Posted by TDeters on 03/24/08 at 12:58 PM ET

It’ll probably be a very simple calculation for Babcock.

I have x number of options for lineups for this particular game, excluding injured players.

If option y gives me the best chance of winning, and option y includes McCarty, then he plays.

Probably be determined by how comfortable he looks in practice, I would think.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 03/24/08 at 03:35 PM ET

My cousin just bought tickets for the STL game on Friday and I am his honored guest! Woohooo….you can look forward to another very buzzed post then.

B: That would be the assumed Babcockian logic but I think its fair to wonder if Holland, teammates, or others aren’t pushing to insert Mac in the lineup for crowd pleasing. I hope not because winning is the most crowd pleasing option there is.

TDeters: More than steamrolling any teams, I want the Wings to show 1) deadly seriousness and 2) some rough and tumble moments, especially to defend themselves. And, of course, 3) psychopathic goaltending. I really wish Hasek popped that player.

Posted by Osrt on 03/24/08 at 09:58 PM ET