The game last night was so epic, I actually put down my alcohol and paid attention.

More attention than I was paying, anyhow.

Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 04/17/09 at 05:15 AM ET

I am so happy for Osgood.  I didn’t know if he was going to play well or not - but I was really, really hoping that he would.  He’s a good guy and has taken so much b.s. from everyone, especially as he struggled so badly this season, and I always root for him (no matter how nervous he makes me).  He’s an easy person to cheer for.

(And as much as I don’t like the Ducks, I chuckled when I saw the score of their game.  Just hoping that series is a good, long one with a few overtimes.) 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/17/09 at 05:17 AM ET

I could see Babcock saying STFU - but I’m picturing from the team as a whole a heavy sigh, and a reminder that they just might, might, possibly actually have some idea what they are doing in the playoffs. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/17/09 at 05:20 AM ET

.Catholics pray to Jesus. Jewish people pray to Moses. Jesus and Moses, pray to Jonny Ericsson.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 04/17/09 at 03:50 AM ET

Great comment SYF. Morning’ 19. Just finished reading the rest of the live blog from last night. 22 pages.You rock folks. I love to start my day checking out who is crazier than I am. Bitches.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 04/17/09 at 06:31 AM ET

If Jesus played hockey, he would be wearing the Redwing #13 jersey.  “The Bible” would be renamed, “The Dynasty” and Uncle Mike would be called Father.

Datsyuk was just a downright motherf*cking monster.  See you Saturday bitches

Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 04/17/09 at 06:36 AM ET

TSN.ca has the video of Ozzie’s comments.  Right pane on their main page, about 1/2 way down the page, with a link Highlights: CLB 1, DET 4.

15 more.

Posted by Guido from Parts Unknown on 04/17/09 at 06:40 AM ET

Sleep??? I don’ need no freakin’ sleep!

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 04/17/09 at 06:43 AM ET

god, you red wings fans are such douchebag losers, and the idiot who runs this blog is a rude, ignorant loser.  *#$%@& you all, you *#$%@& *#$%@&.

Posted by hector on 04/17/09 at 06:48 AM ET

I finished watching the Hawks-Flames last night. Is it just me, spoiled by watching the Wings? I find it hard to watch teams that do not seem to play at a certain level even in the playoffs. I couldn’t hang around for the Poultry. Too tired.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 04/17/09 at 06:54 AM ET

god, you red wings fans are such douchebag losers, and the idiot who runs this blog is a rude, ignorant loser.  *#$%@& you all, you *#$%@& *#$%@&.

Posted by hector on 04/17/09 at 07:48 AM ET

aww, poor hector didn’t get a BJ?  poor kid.

Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 04/17/09 at 06:59 AM ET

god, you red wings fans are such douchebag losers, and the idiot who runs this blog is a rude, ignorant loser.  *#$%@& you all, you *#$%@& *#$%@&.

Posted by hector on 04/17/09 at 07:48 AM ET

Who let the trolls in this morning

Posted by Jeremy from the dark side of the moon on 04/17/09 at 07:00 AM ET

15 more games like that from Ozzie and its a dozen hanging from the rafters…he served up a big slice of humble pie to the kids from Columbus.  My voice is hoarse, the Joe was rockin’ last night…my row, anyway.  This is Red Wings playoff hockey….

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 04/17/09 at 07:01 AM ET

Ozzie was amazing in the first period especially.  Full of confidence.  Made me feel good inside.
Over 1000 posts on the live blog?  That is just great.  You guy’s rock.  Sorry I could not join you.

Posted by Jeff from Loveland, CO on 04/17/09 at 07:03 AM ET

Heard that Ozzy quote when he gave it in the post-game presser.  He was a bit pissed at the insinuation in the reporter’s question, I think, although he mellowed when the reporter suggested in his follow-up that he was speaking more about the team in general perhaps being ‘relieved’ to have this one in the bag, more so than Oz specifically.

Oh, and Rick Nash said the Beejers can certainly hang with the Wings—that Detroit just got some lucky bounces last night, which is true.  Of course, when your team manages only eight shots over the final forty minutes, there aren’t a whole lot of a chances bounces to go all lucky-like, eh?

Posted by O-Joe on 04/17/09 at 07:22 AM ET

* chances for bounces…

Posted by O-Joe on 04/17/09 at 07:23 AM ET

Wings fans get pretty excited when Osgood actually makes a save! Wow! You won game one against THE BLUE JACKETS! Put another one in the rafters!!!! Get over yourselves.

Posted by Little Caesar from Detroit on 04/17/09 at 07:25 AM ET

Yeah, it’s one game, but the hate is on.  Ups and downs are always nearly manic on a very short time frame in the playoffs.  Before the game, you’re ecstatic, and five hours later, you’re depressed as all hell get out. 

One game.  I’ll take it.

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 04/17/09 at 07:31 AM ET

Friday morning brings out the trolls I guess.

Still exhaling.  No third period collapse, they kept their foot on the gas.  I know it is only one game and what a great game it was!

I did watch Hawks/Flames and that one was bizarre.  Hawks had 9 shots in the first two periods but then win it 10 seconds into overtime?  I was watching Ducks/Sharks but did fall asleep during it.  So much relief from our first game being done and done well.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 04/17/09 at 07:34 AM ET

And I’m still pissed about that whole Homer thing in the first period.  He gets cross-checked to the ice three times in front, gets up after the third one, skates down to the other end and gets an interference minor for taking out a crease-crasher after the puck was securely in Ozzy’s glove.

Bastards…

Posted by O-Joe on 04/17/09 at 07:40 AM ET

Darren Helm!

Did you see that bolt of lightning hammering guys in the zone?

He got a penalty that was totally bogus, because he just obliterated somebody.

He looks like a TOW missile!

Posted by w2j2 on 04/17/09 at 07:45 AM ET

Fraggin’ Guralnick.  That is a GLORIOUS photo.

I won’t necessarily believe that the team or Ozzie have geniunely flipped a switch and are capable of playing the regular season at a consistent low level to conserve energy, yet still win, then ruthlessly take apart opposing teams in the playoffs like so many Legos until about oh, fifteen wins from now, but, hell…

...The greatest mind hockey has ever known, when asked around the time of the Winter Classic what he thought of his former team, said “The Wings are bored.”  If Bowman thinks that this whole season has not been a team sucking, but cruising and resting until the games actually meant something, then that’s enough for me to have a little faith.

Oh, and if Ozzie from last year’s playoffs shows up this year?  Holy hell—that’s HOF material right there.  How many other goalies can play lackadaisical all season long then turn into a lightning-quick whip when needed?  Most of them need to maintain focus, rhythm, face at least thirty shots a night or else they rust up real quick.  If Osgood is a stainless-steel cyborg, and wins a third as a starter this year, there should be NO argument left to keep him out of the Hall.

If Jesus played hockey, he would be wearing the Redwing #13 jersey.

Think again.  There’s an only half-false joke that ends with the line, “That’s God—he thinks he’s Pavel Datsyuk.”

This team did everything mostly right last night.  If they can maintain that while fixing the few things that went wrong, and avoid significant injuries, then there’s a chance that some of us will still be watching the Cup Champs next October in Sweden.  Never will I be more glad to be so damned wrong.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 04/17/09 at 07:46 AM ET

Wings fans get pretty excited when Osgood actually makes a save! Wow! You won game one against THE BLUE JACKETS! Put another one in the rafters!!!! Get over yourselves.
Posted by Little Caesar from Detroit on 04/17/09 at 08:25 AM ET

Another puppy out of the Jackatoreum…quick, kick it!

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 04/17/09 at 07:47 AM ET

I did watch Hawks/Flames and that one was bizarre.  Hawks had 9 shots in the first two periods but then win it 10 seconds into overtime? 

Saw that.  Blueline turnovers will kill you.  Nice payback for Havlat after Camalleri smacked him in the head.

Did someone forget to pay the bill for the troll fumigators?  I thought we had that all lined up before the playoffs.  Guess not. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/17/09 at 07:49 AM ET

Just one game, but I think its impact could be massive for one reason—Ozzie. That quote from SYF is epic. Ozzie just looked like he was on a mission to make us stuff it up our asses.

Game two will be interesting. It will be important to see if the Wings come out with the same intensity and surgical precision, or if they fall into the trap of, “Oh we beat ‘em 4-1, we’ll just out-talent them.”

I don’t THINK they’ll fall into the trap, but let’s just say I’m going to stay cautiously optimistic.

Also, got tickets to tomorrow’s game. Unfortunately I am in the upper bowl far away from where I could get the words “douche”, “canoe”, and “Pierre” on camera.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 04/17/09 at 07:49 AM ET

You won game one against THE BLUE JACKETS! Put another one in the rafters!!!! Get over yourselves.

Hey, winning the first game against a lower seed is better than the Capitals or the Sharks could manage. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/17/09 at 07:51 AM ET

I will be riding the high from this until tomorrow morning.  Yes, then it will be fetal position (emotionally for sure, requiring constant coddling from the GF, and then physically as game time approaches) for much of the day leading up to the game. 

Maybe I’ll wait until tomorrow to mention the following:  If we lose game 2, it will be a complete and utter disaster.  Animal sacrifices will again skyrocket, as will blinding white-hot road rage, in the Ithaca, NY area.  (It’s easy to make a statistic at a default 0 for a town to skyrocket)

On the bright side, the BJs are happy to be on their knees going into game 2.

“It’s a good thing,” Michael Peca said.

Cool. You dig that, Chief?

Wings fans get pretty excited when Osgood actually makes a save!

You haven’t watched much of the regular season, and certainly haven’t been in here during wins despite soft defense/goaltending, and certainly not during the 3rd period collapses. Yes, we’re excited.  Suck it.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 04/17/09 at 07:52 AM ET

Datsyuk had 6 of the team’s 37 hits, and was something like 15-6 on faceoffs. 

Oh yeah, good game last night to the sharkfin.  Getzlaffedat puts the nail in the coffin coming out of the box.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 04/17/09 at 07:56 AM ET

Yeah, I wasn’t going to say anything, because it seems crass after a win, but since others have brought it up… what the hell was that officiating all about? And not just bad for Detroit, it was just plain bad, period. The Rafalski call started the downward spiral. I get why they called that interference, and I was okay with it.

But then for the next 20 minutes the Jackets proceeded to tackle, cross-check, and bear-hug every Wing that went near their crease, even though the puck wasn’t within 25 feet. If you called the one on Rafalski, you have to call the NUMEROUS plays like that that the Jackets committed.

And then, as usual, the refs did what they always do—the dreaded makeup call. The goalie interference call on Vermette was TERRIBLE. That was so far from being anything resembling a penalty. The puck was in the corner. There was no play to the front of the net. Vermette got bumped by the defenseman. They should’ve just let that go… because it wasn’t a penalty!

Now, I’ll take a Wings power play, I can’t complain about that, but it’s just obnoxious because if the same thing had been called against Homer? We’d be furious. I hope the officiating is more consistent next game, for the sake of both teams. Columbus played well over the edge all night as far as interference and contact away from the play and got away with it.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 04/17/09 at 07:56 AM ET

  god, you red wings fans are such douchebag losers, and the idiot who runs this blog is a rude, ignorant loser.  *#$%@& you all, you *#$%@& *#$%@&.

  Posted by hector on 04/17/09 at 07:48 AM ET

Wow, it’s starting early, eh? Man, what a great game last night. I wish I could have been around for the liveblog. You guys had over a THOUSAND posts! lol.

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 04/17/09 at 07:57 AM ET

I was watching Ducks/Sharks but did fall asleep during it.

Anaheim played like their 2007 version, flying elbows and all. The turnover that lead to Getzlaf’s goal shouldn’t have happened; unforced and sloppy. The Sharks better up their game because I want that series to go 7 games with multiple overtimes.

And I’m still pissed about that whole Homer thing in the first period.

Several of the penalties in the first period were tone setting crap. I’m still amazed that Detroit got goaltender interference calls that went their way. I can’t remember the last time that happened.

Posted by Aphaea from Pennsylvania on 04/17/09 at 08:01 AM ET

a2y has to be the dumbest blog linked to KK

Posted by Dale on 04/17/09 at 08:05 AM ET

Third line domination? 

Permission to speak freely?  Wally, Happy, and William Tell are top 6 forwards on ANY other team in the league…people seem to forget about them during the regular season because their names aren’t Datsyuk, Hossa, Zetterberg, (and Franzen is creeping up there [11 more years]).  4 goals last night, and 0 by guys wearing 13, 81, and 40…if these guys start putting the puck in the net and we get solid contributions from our third line, with Helm’s speed, Coke N’ Pepsi’s size, and Malts’ defensive prowess?  Oh, and apparently Ozzie stopped thinking about his wife leaving him, like SYF said, he had the eye of the tiger.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 04/17/09 at 08:09 AM ET

I couldn’t stay awake for the Sharks / Ducks game, but it was the first thing I checked this morning.  I know the Ducks are hot, but damn.  We’ve been hearing it (and saying it ourselves all season) to the point where I’ve been getting sick of the question about whether the Sharks can manage to get over their past playoff performances (as much as I’ve tired hearing about Detroit’s goaltending).  I know one game doesn’t make a whole series, but getting shut out in the opener is terrible.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/17/09 at 08:12 AM ET

No Dale, it’s not.  Take a few deep breaths Dale, and relax.  Why?  Because last night proved what all of you haters were worried was true.  We. Are. Back.

My wife and I are looking to buy a house and found this great colonial outside of Alexandria.  While we were reviewing the contract, we found out it was constructed by Jonathan Ericsson.

Pavel Datsyuk is a giant.  Unbelievable.  Chris Osgood has mastered his emotions much like Tiger Woods.  He’s a good goalie, and coupled with that calm and confidence, we could see another run like last year.

Darren Helm was great.  Man, that kid has energy.  And another thing I noticed is that no one was back-checking more than a certain winger named Marian Hossa.  Someone wants to win a Stanley Cup, I think.

If there were two negatives, I would say the first was the Wings needing ten minutes into the first period to engage.  Osgood was great, but one or two of those pucks bounce differently, and it’s 1-0 Columbus heading into the first intermission.  This game reminded me of game one of last year’s finals.  Second negative, Kirk Maltby doesn’t really have much left, it seems.  There were a couple of moments in the second where he could have capitalized, and was two or three steps too slow.  And man, I want Kopecky to hit somebody.  We need that kid to turn into Dallas Drake.

Jonathan Ericsson is the next Niklas Lidstrom.

Posted by TDeters on 04/17/09 at 08:18 AM ET

Saturday is going to be one of those “Survive the first 10 minutes” games.  At least I hope so.  Seems like whenever a team wants to push the pace on us, our guys react with enthusiasm, almost as if to say “Finally, another team wants to play the game at our speed!”  No team has kept up that pace on us for 60 minutes.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/17/09 at 08:19 AM ET

Re: officiating:

It was absolutley horrid in the Vancouver game, too.  They were calling everything - it was a special-teams-fest galore, at least for the first half of the game.  I guess they are going throught their “beginning of the playoffs crackdown” right now.

Re: Sharks - Ducks:

Anyone who watched - Did they Sharks look tight and nervous?  It would make sense.  They have so many high expectations this year, and such a history of so-called and actual choking in the playoffs, that if they don’t wint eh Cup this year no matter what it will probably feel like a failure to some of them.  If any other fans know how tough that can be, it’s probably some of us.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/17/09 at 08:24 AM ET

what the hell was that officiating all about?

It was about Paul Devorski.  He’s a boneheaded jackass, and I for one am not really surprised, though I’m disappointed that as much as the Wings have upped their game for the playoffs, the same can’t be said for the officials.

Anaheim played like their 2007 version, flying elbows and all.

Flying elbows win Cups!  Yeah guys, that’s what Sasquatch was thinking when you caught him staring into space.

And I take expception to the liveblog breaking records—that was a liveblog of three games, and the intended one was ‘only’ around 700 or 800 comments.  I think the record-breaker is still Game 6 last year.  Or it might have been the previous game, but I don’t want to think about that right now.  Or ever again.

And here’s one, as Bette Midler said, for the boys:

“Bacon.  You know, bacon gets a bad rap these days.  Bad for this, bad for that—well I don’t buy it!  I eat bacon everyday…at every meal…pounds of it!  I serve my guests bacon, I drink bacon, even like a little bacon in my shorts.  Some slices.  (drops bacon into his underwear).  Nice.  And that’s just some of bacon’s many, many, many…many many…many uses.  Bacon makes a great gift.  A great corsage for prom dance dates, and my wife makes these charming little dresses…out of bacon!  Heck, I even wear one myself when the time’s right…(sly wink) and it usually is.  When I’m blue, I tell bacon my troubles.  ‘I’m feelin’ a little mopey today, bacon.’  And when I ain’t blue, well, I like to sing my bacon a little tune!
‘Bacon bacon bacon, I’m makin’ the moves on you!
You’re bacon!!!!’
So, when you’re sitting down to your breakfast pancakes or waffles, you know, why don’t you lay down an extra slice or two of bacon?  But save one for me, I may just put it down my shorts…most likely will.  Bacon, anybody?”

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 04/17/09 at 08:24 AM ET

My wife and I are looking to buy a house and found this great colonial outside of Alexandria.  While we were reviewing the contract, we found out it was constructed by Jonathan Ericsson.

Actually, he didn’t build it, that’s a heap of his dung.

And I say that as no offense to the house you’re looking at—the point is that Jonny Ericsson’s shit is just that beautiful.

Re: Sharks/Ducks—I thought the Ducks played okay… the Sharks choked it away again. Looked like the ‘06 Wings. Lots of outside shots, not enough net presence. I mean, I give the Ducks credit, but they didn’t appear threatening so much as the Sharks appeared impotent.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 04/17/09 at 08:26 AM ET

Did someone forget to pay the bill for the troll fumigators?  I thought we had that all lined up before the playoffs.  Guess not.  smile

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/17/09 at 08:49 AM ET

There was a jar on the bar (har har) that I stuck some cash in, but methinks Voox pocketed it after most of us were passed out.

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 04/17/09 at 08:35 AM ET

If there were two negatives, I would say the first was the Wings needing ten minutes into the first period to engage.

Yeah, but it’s kinda hard to engage when you’re killing bogus penalties for the first ten minutes.

We need that kid to turn into Dallas Drake.

Agreed.  He doesn’t bring much else to the table right now, and this is the Big Show, the one we’ve all been waiting for, so hit, and hit, and hit again.  Punish them.  Forecheck the fear of God into them.

Saturday is going to be one of those “Survive the first 10 minutes” games.

Remember Uncle Mike’s comments from last year’s playoffs?  If not, I bet he does and is repeating them to the team.  “Everyone says we need to weather the storm in the first period.  Why can’t we BE the storm?”

the point is that Jonny Ericsson’s shit is just that beautiful.

And it smells like roses.  No, wait, that’s not manly.  It smells like steak and beer and burnt gunpowder.

they didn’t appear threatening so much as the Sharks appeared impotent.

Well, if anyone knows how to lead them to a series victory, it’s their star center…

...Guess they’re screwed then.

Joe Thornton.  Great player, but he’s got the the heart of a gnat.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 04/17/09 at 08:36 AM ET

Man I thought the stress train would be stopped until tomorrow, but I barley made it to this morning and the *#$%@& pulled out of the station.  LB was fun last night.  I only wish I would have stayed on a little longer so I could have wept at San Jose becoming that pussy Getzlafs bitch.

Posted by AxeMaster9 on 04/17/09 at 08:37 AM ET

I only wish I would have stayed on a little longer so I could have wept at San Jose becoming that pussy Getzlafs bitch.

I found a goldmine this morning Axe.  I’m trying to figure out how to use it.  But I found something good.

Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 04/17/09 at 08:42 AM ET

I found a goldmine this morning Axe.  I’m trying to figure out how to use it.  But I found something good.

Is it Bacon?

Posted by AxeMaster9 on 04/17/09 at 08:44 AM ET

Agreed on the sentiment that one game isn’t proof that all is totally well. We’ll for sure take it as a big home win & a ressurection of our #1 goalie. Ozzie didn’t steal it for us, but he kept us in the game and kept them off the board when we needed the help. A for goaltending, A for effort and B’s for the rest. Nevermind commenting on the officiating.
Guralnick is the freaking man.
1 down, 15 to go.

Re: Sharks/Ducks—I thought the Ducks played okay… the Sharks choked it away again. Looked like the ‘06 Wings. Lots of outside shots, not enough net presence. I mean, I give the Ducks credit, but they didn’t appear threatening so much as the Sharks appeared impotent.

Agreed, I didn’t see thw hole game… but when team pulls back and fires pot shots from 40 feet and nobody’s paying the price at the net, it’s easy to make the other team look better than they’re playing. Game 2 of that series will be worth watching fo’ sho’.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 04/17/09 at 08:54 AM ET

Wings point-getters last night…

Hudler (1G 1A)
Franzen (1G 1A)
Ericsson (1G)
Kronwall (1G)
Samuelsson (2A)
Filpulla (2A)
Zetterberg (1A)

I’m damn sure that’s not what ANYBODY expected the scoresheet to look like for a Wings win.  this is a very, very good sign.

thirdendary© scoring, BITCHES.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/17/09 at 09:09 AM ET

On a sunny day in Chitown it’s so nice to see so many happy chickenhawk fans today. They are like that little kid who’s finally tall enough to ride the mechanical pony at Meijer’s. Very cute but sad at the same time because that glorious ride will only last so long and it’s back to the sticky car seat in the back of the smelly mini-van.  The cruel reality will set in and the tears will flow.

GO WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by MSUMorty on 04/17/09 at 09:12 AM ET

just watched that clip of the Osgood interview on TSN.ca - in that instant the entire image I have of him in my mind changed.  for some reason I, and I suspect many of us, still saw him as that fragile young baby-faced goalie playing for the Wings 10 years ago.

and in one instant, one short interview clip, he became a grizzled veteran in my mind’s eye.  something about the tone in his voice,  it just sounded right.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/17/09 at 09:13 AM ET

All this talk of the Wings coasting thru the regular season and thinking they can just flip a switch whenever they want to reminded me of the Pistons after they won in ‘04.  The difference is in the Pistons’ case, it was unwarranted arrogance (hence the way they rolled over like a bunch of limp-wristed fairies for Wade/Lebron/Celtics in 06-08), whereas in the Wings case, it’s looking like the switch actually exists.

Posted by cephalopod from Chicago...nope, still not over it. on 04/17/09 at 09:15 AM ET

ducks win with 2 goals on 17 shots. san jose throws 35 shots in the direction of hiller and comes out looking like dave lewis-era wings.

and this morning one would have to say that drawing columbus in the first-round feels a lot better than dealing with anaheim and all their nonsense—especially if they manage to knock off san jose, or at least rough ‘em up real good.

Posted by some kid from brooklyn on 04/17/09 at 09:28 AM ET

a2y has to be the dumbest blog linked to KK

I love it when we get under their skin. High fives all around for the 19. Love you guys.

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 04/17/09 at 09:32 AM ET