Congrats Deuce!  Not that I’m jealous or anything…

...Got any lottery numbers for me?

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/11/09 at 05:38 AM ET

JJ called it dead on.    No tiebreakers necessary.

Anyway, it’s Sunday morning coming down and I just now got around to reading the “Biron to the Wings” rumors (yeah, from July).  Which was interesting.  I thought he was underrated as a Flyer and didn’t understand why they let him go.  If someone gave me a choice between Ray Emery and Martin Biron, I would give that person the blankest stare ever and then say “Biron.  Are you kidding me?  He comes to the rink every day, right?”.

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 10/11/09 at 06:51 AM ET

First headline I read after I woke up.  Completely forgot about the contest and thought this referred to a suspension to Meech for the Boarding.  Morning y’all.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 10/11/09 at 06:51 AM ET

Congratulations Deuce- have a good time.

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 10/11/09 at 06:54 AM ET

2 for 2 on American soil…my attendance record in NA remains impeccable.

Congrats Deuce…ya bastard.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 10/11/09 at 08:10 AM ET

2 Good wins against 2 of the NHLs better teams.  Ozzie overcame the early miss and made some exceptional saves, I am SUCH an Ozzie fan now, until the next game.  Manic. Depressive.

Was Ovie pissed after the game and not too cordial?  Well that’s the sign of a competitor.  That dude can create a scoring opportunity out of nothing and throw a 90 mph shot on goal from anywhere that surprises the goalie.

Congrats IT on the forecasting.

I had to bail LB last night after one period to watch football live but went to bed happy when I saw the rest of the game.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 10/11/09 at 09:09 AM ET

If you can laugh and cry in the same day (thanks Jimmy Valvano for that one) you not only have a full life but are a Tiger fan.

Here’s more on Miguel Cabrera.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/miguel_cabrera_hits_dismal?utm_source=onion_rss_daily

And no, although this is a sensitive subject, I’m the Dad of two girls so I don’t make light of spousal abuse but this is funny.  A2Y is the one place we shouldn’t have to precondition comments but there ya are.  I mean, this whole blog has a bizarre “Onion” twist to it.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 10/11/09 at 09:30 AM ET

Today should be the last baseball game ever in that plastic baggie-infested god-forsaken garage-inspired carpeted fraking hellhole excuse for a “baseball park” that never should have been allowed to come into existence when it was designed by the architectural firm of Satan.

RIP Metrodome.

(I only wish passionately that it was being demolished.  I would do almost anything for the privelege of killing it with fire personally.  Demon-possessed chamber of horrors.)

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 10/11/09 at 09:43 AM ET

That’s right bitches.  Now quit hating on my superior number guessing skills.

On a serious not though, I missed the live blog last night on account of a wedding reception and I’m guessing this was covered.  But how about that modified circus?  Bert looked better in that game than I have ever seen him in a Red Wing uniform.  Almost like one of his linemates was Naslund again.  Although I have to admit that I didn’t get to see the whole game, but what I did see they looked quite good.

Posted by ITDeuce from The Land of Ice and Snow on 10/11/09 at 09:50 AM ET

And I was glad to see Detroit manage to largely shut down such dynamic forwards as Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom, and Green.  Very solid defensive effort against a very high-scoring team.

And I really wish that Babcock would stop with the splitting up of Hank and Pavel.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 10/11/09 at 09:57 AM ET

Anyway, it’s Sunday morning coming down

Do I smell a KK fan?  And I don’t mean Kuklas Korner…

Posted by ITDeuce from The Land of Ice and Snow on 10/11/09 at 10:05 AM ET

  Anyway, it’s Sunday morning coming down

Do I smell a KK fan?  And I don’t mean Kuklas Korner…

I’ll be damned.  I always thought that was a Johnny Cash original.

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 10/11/09 at 10:52 AM ET

Deuce, you lucky bastard, you trusted Dr. Rahmani didn’t you?

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 10/11/09 at 10:53 AM ET

Congrats, Deuce.  Also, thanks Chief for getting the tongue-in-cheek posting of my guess after the penalty had happened.

Deuce, you’re right about the modified Circus.  Bertuzzi did look damn good on that line and I thought he could get even better once he learns the timing of the twins a bit better and gets used to having passes end up on his tape when he’s not used to expecting them.  The Homer, Abdelkader, J-Will line started off slow, but by the end of the game they didn’t look like crap.  I think Helm centering those two would improve them even more. 

I really don’t want Leino and Filppula broken up and I hope this game was a notice to Uncle Mike that he shouldn’t mess with the chemistry of the top two lines now.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/11/09 at 11:26 AM ET

Congratulations, Deuce. And I as loathe as I am to admit it, I agree with all the previous comments about the toothless Unabomber’s fine performance last night, as well as Williams doing a nice job on the PP . You couldn’t have asked more from the top line defensively. Z still looks a little off (understandable given that he missed all of training camp). Once they get their timing going on the offensive end, look out.

Thought the fourth line was pretty sharp, too ... I liked what I saw of Eaves. It’ll be interesting to see what Uncle Mike does on Tuesday if Taz is back ... just switch him out with Abbadabba?

Posted by Bella on 10/11/09 at 12:27 PM ET

Congrats on the pointedly perfect prognostications Deuce.  Enjoy the trip.

Tuzzi looked almost inspired last night.  Seemed to know it was an opportunity not to be wasted.

Sunday Morning Coming Down....KK wrote, Cash owned it.

Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, sippin rum & catchin some rays on 10/11/09 at 12:29 PM ET

Congrats Deuce.

So Rick Nash live and in person did not disappoint last night.  Nor did the Coyotes fans, who not only don’t recognize a Winter Classic Detroit logo when they see one, but also think anything resembling a Rangers jersey is, in fact, a NY Rangers jersey.  Did Adam Selene ever play for a team that had the same colours as the Rangers?  Hell no, he’s a fictional character, made up by other fictional characters.  That’s fiction 2 times.  And Phoenix fans are basically illiterate.

Good game though, last night.  I like Ozzie’s kick-save on Ovie.  Ah, the “Gotta be good to be lucky” cliche’s can recommence.

Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 10/11/09 at 01:24 PM ET

Happy for you Deuce. No really.

Bert looked good, YES, but he needs consistency and to stay injury free. Leino and Fil looked great together; Babbles trusted their line in the last 30 secs. But, of course, the main guns are out of the last 10 seconds. I was thinking how awesome it is that we can match power against power with anyone and trust the same crew to keep the lead.

Ozzie’s save on Ovie was great, but he was fortunate Ovie fuched up and shot to the middle of the net rather than near side.

Posted by Osrt on 10/11/09 at 02:38 PM ET

And I was glad to see Detroit manage to largely shut down such dynamic forwards as Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom, and Green

I thought Green was a goalie.

Posted by stayouttamalibu from Temporarily in Tempe, AZ on 10/11/09 at 02:52 PM ET

Deuce, you lucky bastard, you trusted Dr. Rahmani didn’t you?

You should too.

KK’s “unplugged” version of that song is better than any version cash sang.  But keep in mind that opinions are like assholes…

Posted by ITDeuce from The Land of Ice and Snow on 10/11/09 at 03:04 PM ET

I thought Green was a goalie.

Yeah wasn’t he a Vezina nominee last year?

Posted by ITDeuce from The Land of Ice and Snow on 10/11/09 at 03:05 PM ET

KK’s “unplugged” version of that song is better than any version cash sang.

Do I smell a KK fan?  And I don’t mean Kuklas Korner…

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 10/11/09 at 03:20 PM ET

Washington has two Mike Greens.  Like the Sedins, but unrelated and with lame haircuts.  One was nominated for the Vezina, the other was robbed of the Selke.  Talented kids. 

Way the hell off topic:  I finally got the pictures I like the most from my vacation to Sleeping Bear Dunes uploaded (although I haven’t got titles yet - still working on it) to photobucket in case anyone is bored out of their minds and wants to see dune grasses and sandy beaches and the waters of Lake Michigan.

http://s824.photobucket.com/albums/zz166/zielonka97/Sleeping Bear Dunes vacation/

(Check out the last couple for something you won’t see in very many other states but Michigan.) 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 10/11/09 at 03:27 PM ET

Some really nice photos Baroque.  I assume photography is a hobby of yours?  It seems like you weren’t just bringing a camera along on the trip to just point and shoot.

Posted by stayouttamalibu from Temporarily in Tempe, AZ on 10/11/09 at 03:48 PM ET

The scheduling chimps have scored another WTF…..
Anaheim playing the Rangers this afternoon after playing the Flyers last night.
End of the first, they have managed only 1 SOG.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 10/11/09 at 04:50 PM ET

linky no worky Ms. B: I tired to delete the spaces between the words as well.

Posted by Osrt on 10/11/09 at 05:04 PM ET

linky no worky Ms. B: I tired to delete the spaces between the words as well.

The Bear Dunes Vacation is supposed to be part of the link, just copy and paste that whole line into your browser.

Posted by stayouttamalibu from Temporarily in Tempe, AZ on 10/11/09 at 05:53 PM ET

How about this:

Sleeping Bear Dunes vacation pictures

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 10/11/09 at 06:03 PM ET

The scheduling chimps have scored another WTF…..
Anaheim playing the Rangers this afternoon after playing the Flyers last night.
End of the first, they have managed only 1 SOG.

I imagine the NHL locking a bunch of monkeys in a room with a typewriter.  Eventually they pound out a schedule.

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 10/11/09 at 06:04 PM ET

Direct Link to Miss B’s great ;photo’s.

for those of the 19 that are copy and past challenged.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 10/11/09 at 07:25 PM ET

Do I smell a KK fan?  And I don’t mean Kuklas Korner…

His calm demeanor causes me to really put them back.  Whooda thunk it?

Nice pics Baroque, did you see any cougars?  Oh the drama…

Posted by ITDeuce from The Land of Ice and Snow on 10/11/09 at 07:27 PM ET

for those of the 19 that are copy and past challenged.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd from Madmen is in my 19th year on 10/11/09 at 08:25 PM ET

Now that there’s just funny Gramps.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 10/11/09 at 09:03 PM ET

Andrew A3 -

I just sent a link in a Private Message to you related to one of the discussions we had at lunch.  For some it would be so offensive and sacrilegious I wouldn’t even put it on A2Y, so you know it’s got to be REALLY bad.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 10/12/09 at 06:47 AM ET

I really don’t want Leino and Filppula broken up and I hope this game was a notice to Uncle Mike that he shouldn’t mess with the chemistry of the top two lines now.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/11/09 at 12:26 PM ET

Yeah there’s two lines showing some great chemistry, The Flying Circus and The Fins +1.

JWill unleashed a wicked PP slap shot which is what they were expecting from him, I was sure happy to see it ring in.

Defeated 2 very good teams while at home.

This season is going to physically test the talent depth of each franchise in the Central Division.  6 games x 4 Division opponents = 24 games of sacrificing the body blocking shots, laying hits,  not to mention the rest of the Conference plus an occasional trip to the East where everyone will want to take their shot in front of their home crowd at The Franchise.

It’s going to be a long, demanding season.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 10/12/09 at 06:56 AM ET

I thought Green was a goalie.
Yeah wasn’t he a Vezina nominee last year?
Posted by ITDeuce on 10/11/09 at 04:05 PM ET

That’s what happens when we get occasional visits from pharmacists and other hockey Posers.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 10/12/09 at 06:57 AM ET

I imagine the NHL locking a bunch of monkeys in a room with a typewriter.  Eventually they pound out a schedule.

Posted by monkey from Resizing my partitions on 10/11/09 at 07:04 PM ET

“It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times?  You stupid monkey!”

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 10/12/09 at 07:06 AM ET

So you take Johnny Cash, add a little Simpsons and you come up with this…

Homer’s Spirit Guide, a talking coyote voiced by The Man in Black, himself.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 10/12/09 at 07:40 AM ET

Don’t laugh, RWBill—eventually those monkeys will recreate all the world’s great works of literature.  Kinda like how if an infinite number of rednecks, riding in an infinite number of pickup trucks, fired an infinite number of shotgus at an infinite number of highway signs, they would eventually reproduce all the world’s great works of literature in Braille.

Oh, and I’m no pharmacist, but I’m pretty sure Jose Theodore will win the Cy Young Award this year.

I’ll just have a look at my PMs now…

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/12/09 at 09:31 AM ET

Baroque, I haven’t looked at many of your photos (yet), but I like what I’ve seen.  Did you use any manual settings (shutter speed, aperture, white balance, etc.) or was that all automatic?  I’m trying to figure out which brain thought up those gorgeous colors—the biological or electronic one.  Regardless, they show a good compositional eye—and there’s no electronic one of those, only the biological one.  Thanks for sharing, I’ll let you know more of my thoughts as I look—if you’d like to hear them.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/12/09 at 09:39 AM ET

Congrats Deuce on a job well done. Please remember photos for the 19. Lucky dog.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 10/12/09 at 04:28 PM ET

Congrats ITDeuce!

I’m looking forward to seeing your photos when I get home, Baroque.  Sleeping Bear is one of my favorite places in Michigan.  I hope to take my daughter there some day.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 10/12/09 at 04:59 PM ET

Homer’s Spirit Guide, a talking coyote voiced by The Man in Black, himself.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 10/12/09 at 08:40 AM ET

I remember,  was that when he was on peyote, or ate too many habanero peppers, maybe.

Very nice photos Baroque,  I’ve only been up there once, in May, and there were snow flurries.  Good old Michigan.  Andrew has an epic Digital SLR kit, and I can testify can spend the requisite amount of time framing a subject, even a Stone Cold Bitch.  Very nice work.

I uploaded some remaining, non-insulting - mostly -  photos from Sweden.  This link should take you to the set, if you click on each picture, then look for “all sizes” button to make them bigger.  Sorry I don’t know how to set up a stream on flickr so you’ll have to look at thumbnails and click them individually.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwbill/sets/72157622548037406/

The following videos have been processed to fit youtube, but give a not bad feeling of being there.

Final moments of Swedish national anthem.
.
http://www.youtube.com/user/billsblots#p/a/u/0/PTkNblJmVhA.
.
Video of Mats Sundin being introduced to drop the puck just after announcing his retirement.
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zowoJrosJOo

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 10/12/09 at 06:26 PM ET

Helm is ready to return to lineup
Babcock not sure if center will play at Buffalo on Tuesday
Monday, 10.12.2009 / 3:30 PM / News By Bill Roose - DetroitRedWings.com Managing Editor

Maybe we’ll get to see The Nightmare Tuesday.  Hope he’s healthy.

My gosh I’m spamming this Blog today.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 10/12/09 at 06:59 PM ET

Just caught a glimpse of the Hawks/Flames game.  5-0 with 7 minutes left in the first.  Does the NHL use the mercy rule?

Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 10/12/09 at 07:44 PM ET

Just caught a glimpse of the Hawks/Flames game.  5-0 with 7 minutes left in the first.  Does the NHL use the mercy rule?

Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Earth. on 10/12/09 at 08:44 PM ET

Just saw that. Oh Huet…

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 10/12/09 at 08:13 PM ET

Homer’s Spirit Guide, a talking coyote voiced by The Man in Black, himself.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 10/12/09 at 08:40 AM ET
I remember, was that when he was on peyote, or ate too many habanero peppers, maybe.

That friggin episode is pure gold.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 10/12/09 at 08:48 PM ET

By the way, nice to have you around again Ms B.
If I happen to stumble into Detroit again this year, any inclination to go to a game again?

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 10/12/09 at 08:52 PM ET

Yea MO, I’m down. I need to get more games in my life.

Some observations:

Kipper looks very mediocre against Chicago

Kane is a motivated mofo this season

Chicago is trying to play our game by using their D to provide offense, even in the offensive zone, but it’s painful to watch with their stumbling D. Kane is the smartest about this.

Posted by Osrt on 10/12/09 at 09:20 PM ET

Jebus Christpuncher.  Entertaining company tonight.Turned the Hawks Flames game on Versus when it was 5-1 just for some background noise.  5-5 now.  This is ridiculous hockey at its finest. Versus has to be loving their recent insane hockey game broadcasts.  First that Flyers/Caps slugfest now this.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/12/09 at 09:28 PM ET

Worst case, these two teams to go OT and each earn a point in the standings.  It’s hard to say a team that scored five in a period and gave up the lead or a team that allowed five in a period and fought back deserves a win here.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/12/09 at 09:39 PM ET