Abel to Yzerman
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Take a Seat Manny
by IwoCPO on 12/27/07 at 11:05 AM ET
Comments (25)
Big night in Denver. We’ll get to that this afternoon, give it the attention it deserves. First, Manny and the bitter Blues...man, do they hate them some Wings.
I’ll never get it back and it haunts me. I’m talking about the half-hour I spent reading the game day thread from the Let’s Go Blues message board. It still amazes me how such a large group of people are all joined by a single common characteristic: bitter, paranoid, absolutely unequivocal hatred for the Detroit Red Wings.
No. It doesn’t amaze me. Datsyuk’s stop-on-a-dime pass to the suddenly prolific Valteri Filppula? That amazed me.
The fact that the Wings had three days off, flew in to St. Louis the day of the game, were absent their two top scorers, started their “backup” goaltender and still laid waste to the Blues? That amazed me too.
No liveblog last night. House full of people. Dirty looks. “Suggestions” that perhaps I give the blog a rest in lieu of playing the interested host. You know the drill. But I did have the game on in the background. Heard a few of these...."Oh...that’s just Bill. You should see him during the playoffs.”
Speaking of the playoffs. Does this sound familiar?
St. Louis Post Dispatch
“I was the worst player on the ice,” Legace said. “I was terrible ... it’s as simple as that. When your goalie is not making stops, it puts the team on the back of their heels...”
Heard it all before Manny.
Here’s what happens when you watch a hockey game with no sound, casually glancing at the screen every few seconds, trying to be all nonchalant, hoping your wife doesn’t see you because it’s important that you show her that you care as much about being a “good host” as you do about the Detroit Red Wings. When you watch a game under those conditions, you think Chris Osgood faced fifty shots instead of twenty. Every time I looked, he was making a huge save.
Back over to the LGB site, where the Detroit Red Wings are the topic of no fewer than twelve separate discussions, there’s a post elegantly titled “suck it Detroit.” Contained within that brilliant exchange of views is a significant discussion of Valteri Filppula’s hair. I didn’t see too many references to the fact that he’s now scored seven times the last nine games.
“We knew he was good before, he’s just developing now,” Osgood said of Filppula. “He’s still young, he’s coming on. Pav set him up beautifully, twice. He’s getting better and better as we go along here.”
Back over to the Let’s Go Blues board where an internet tough guy is claiming he visited Let’s Go Wings and “beat ass.” Not real sure how you do that, “beat ass” on a message board. I’ll research it and let you know. Must be something Blues fans do in between training for UFC matches.
Just got a “are you ready to wrap that up?” Back this afternoon. I understand there’s a game tonite.
In Denver.
Excellent.
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Comments
agreed with the level of play last night. i got to the bar late to watch the game, worried with the knowledge Hank and Homer were still out. got there, already up one with the next goal in a minute or two later. the Wings looked great, saw lots of Ellis and Kopecky out there, which is nice to see. obviously, unlike basketball, you can’t just put your reserves in when you’re up big but you can give them more ice time, relatively.
i have loved Filpulla with Datsyuk ever since last year’s tinkering when Hank was out. i love the FDC line with Cleary. both Flip and Pav are fast and skilled (and Flip’s confidence is growing game by game) and Cleary is fast/skilled/scrapper/what-have-you. he does the Homer work without his skating being a liability. i’d love to see that line continue and have Hank-Homer-Hudler line. the only problem with that line is the defensive liability that Hudler (size) and Homer (skating) bring. however, if you have Nick and Rafalski out there, they’d be fine. or maybe put Sammy on the wing (all Swedish line).
lately, i’m agreeing with the assessment that this team looks great and changing the chemistry would be a detriment to the work they’ve put in. however, the defense (Lilja in particular/Lebda a little) has been a little shaky here and there. a big, tough body (maybe a little scoring touch) would be a great pick-up at the deadline. for forwards, i can’t think of anyone besides Sammy that i’d want to replace.
Posted by Alex from San Francisco on 12/27/07 at 01:05 PM ET
It is a shame that so much of the Detroit media is spent wasting time on the Lions who are never going to get it right, when they should be directing people’s attention to a team that is playing light’s out about every one else.
I heartily agree.
But I’m not a football fan, so I’d think that even if the damned were making snow angels in Hades and the Lions were in the Super Bowl. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/27/07 at 01:08 PM ET
I wonder if Danny Markov would fly back to Detroit for the playoff run?
Last night was a “STATEMENT” game.
It was clear that the Wings were tired of the rest of the Central thinking they can compete. Last game, St. Louis thought they could intimidate by laying on the body. Then they put Hank out of the lineup with a sore back.
So, after a few days of thinking about it over Christmas, the boys made a statement: “You are not in our league. Your goalie is frail psychologicly. We will out-hit you, out-skate you, out-shoot you, and out-coach you.
Posted by w2j2 on 12/27/07 at 01:30 PM ET
Regarding the media…
The Lidstrom contract? It got a brief mention on the sports radio updates, and a nod during the evening newscast, before going back to your regularly-scheduled laments about why the Lions suck and the chances of the Wolverines, Spartans, the Motor City Bowl, and Jon Kitna having a hangnail.
Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 12/27/07 at 01:51 PM ET
I guess the best way to describe the Wings-Blues rivalry from their side is that they love nothing more than getting their “hate on” against us, and it’s been that way since that stupid Oates-for-Federko trade, if not before. I still remember the endless chants of “USA, USA!” and an occasional “Commies, commies!” chant when the Wings would come to town with the Russian 5, and the Blues’ fans remain as delicate and nuanced as ever.
Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 12/27/07 at 01:53 PM ET
As the official Able to Yzerman spy in Denver (I just made that up)I can say that the Nordique fans have no idea of the kind of demoralizing beat down they’re going to witness tonight. They think they’re just playing another team, and not a team that has landed like a ton of bricks on their last 2 opponents.
“Budjai is playing great!” Really? Well enjoy it while it lasts. 19 goals in the last 5 games, 9 in the last two without Z or Homer.
“Smyth is coming back tonight.” Good, Chelli needs someone to really get his blood flowing and Little Mike Ricci just might fit the bill.
I can’t wait until faceoff.
Posted by wingsfanindenver from 'lancheland on 12/27/07 at 03:17 PM ET
Is it game time yet?
Nope.
Aren’t you still at work right now, anyway? 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/27/07 at 04:26 PM ET
It’s a 9:00 pm (EST) start time tonight isn’t it?
Is there gonna be a liveblog?
If it is and if there is, I hope to see yas there. Here. Whatever.
That is if the wife doesn’t take the ‘puter as she is moving out (while I’m stuck at work)
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 12/27/07 at 04:53 PM ET
Absolutely a live blog tonite Slinger. Look for a new post around 8pm.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 12/27/07 at 05:17 PM ET
Baroque - yes, I’m still at work. Watching the snow come down and trying not to stare at the clock too much.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 12/27/07 at 05:22 PM ET
Posted by Barrio Bob on 12/27/07 at 07:33 PM ET
Slinger, I’m not sure if condolences or congratulations are in order, but either way I will raise a glass to you tonight.
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 12/27/07 at 08:05 PM ET
And Barrio Bob, great pic. Coincidentally, that’ll be his look after the game when reporters ask about his decision to sign with Colorado instead of Detroit.
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 12/27/07 at 08:08 PM ET
(Or...maybe...that could be Ryan Smyth doing his best TeamDub “I’m trying to propose” look. )
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 12/27/07 at 08:09 PM ET
Gabriel, Thanks. And I’m unsure of the whole thing myself. Time will tell.
Drop the puck already!
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 12/27/07 at 09:00 PM ET
Hang in there, cementslinger - whatever the end result.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/27/07 at 09:08 PM ET
I was at the game in STL and man, you guys are right, the STL fans fricking HATE Wings fans. A couple of the guys around us were able to hold a real conversation about hockey but most of them were Neanderthal’s who didn’t know sh*t about hockey but loved “dem Blues”. I told one assw*pe to shut his pie hole and stop turning around to talk “at me”. Blues fans suck.
Posted by Wings Fan in KC from KC on 12/28/07 at 01:18 PM ET
I bet my wife is hotter than your wife.
Posted by goon attack from St. Louis on 12/28/07 at 03:47 PM ET
Ah yes. The internet ass kicker. Had a feeling it was just a matter of time until you showed up.
I bet my wife is hotter than your wife.
I doubt it, but I’m sure there’s a possibility of that. What I’m positive of, though, is that mine is much more selective than yours.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 12/28/07 at 03:55 PM ET
Dude, I’m ruggedly handsome in a Marlboro Man sort of way. Chicks love my look.
Posted by goon attack from St. Louis on 12/28/07 at 04:01 PM ET
What I’m positive of, though, is that mine is much more selective than yours.
Gold diggers tend to be that way. 
Posted by OPTIMEGUS from Jeff Shitty on 12/28/07 at 04:18 PM ET
Sarcasam is a difficult thing to realize at a hockey arena.
Personally it took me only one game of listening to some mulleted contribution to society yelling Huckey Town Huckey Town for 3 periods of hockey to understand that Red Wing fans are cut from the finest cloth. If only thanking Jesus were enough.
Posted by Grapes Danson from USA on 12/28/07 at 07:32 PM ET
grapes danson!
Posted by goon attack from St. Louis on 12/31/07 at 01:21 PM ET
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I did not watch that much of the game last night. However, I have not seen the Wings play like that in a long time. It looked like the Russian Five out there again. Pin-point passing, skating around Blues players that looked as if they were standing still...only they weren’t!
It was simply amazing to see the level of domination I saw yesterday in the limited amount of time I watched the game.
I don’t know if the Blues were just “off” their game last night or if the Wings were just “on” their game. Maybe a little of both. I have watched a few Wings games this year and yes, they are playing great. But last night was the first time their play actually stopped me in my tracks and made me literally wonder at how incrediblely well they were executing. Especially when you consider that the Blues are a pretty good team.
It is a shame that so much of the Detroit media is spent wasting time on the Lions who are never going to get it right, when they should be directing people’s attention to a team that is playing light’s out about every one else. And I say that as a person who is just as much a football fan as he is a hockey fan.
Posted by Tim on 12/27/07 at 12:40 PM ET