Well, I think the message from Mike Babcock truly got through to the Wings, and they in turn sent a message to the rest of the league Sunday.

It may have only been one win, but to take down one of the top teams in the entire league should have the rest of the NHL taking notice.

Detroit’s 5-4 win against he Blackhawks in Chicago was HUGE!!!

Not only did it earn them two valuable points, but it could also be the springboard that gets this team back to playing like the Heroes of Hockeytown should. The victory reminded me of the 1997 Red Wings’ win over Colorado. You remember, the one where Darren McCarty made the big bully Claude Le-puke turtle one year after he turned Kris Draper’s face into a jigsaw puzzle. In that same brawl Mike Vernon took on Patrick ‘Roy-ng (pronounced Wrong) at center ice.

In that game, the wings earned their first victory over the Avs since the regular season of 1996. For most Wing fans and the players themselves, that win was the official start of the Red Wings run to their first Stanley Cup since the 1950’s.

The signficance of that win 13 years ago was that it showed the Wings that they could beat their hated rivals, and it brought them together the way they needed to be to make a serious run at The Cup.

Although there was no huge brawl Sunday, the win has to be a confidence builder for Detroit. It’s kind of like in Rocky IV during Rocky’s fight against Drago. At one point in fight after Rocky seems to be the one taking all of the punishment, while his punches seem to have no effect on the big Russian, the Italian Stallion finally busts Drago open with a shot under the eye. That’s when during the break between rounds, Rocky’s trainer Duke says, “You see? You see? He’s not a machine, he’s a man, he’s a man.”

Of course, like in every movie of the series, Rocky goes out and does the impossible, beating a seemingly stronger opponent.

I think after this win on Sunday, Mike Babcock can play the role of Duke and tell his team that the Blackhawks are a team just like themselves, and not the unstoppable machine many may think they are.

Now lets hope that the Big Red Machine can keep chugging along over these last remaining games and ,regardless of where they finish, make another memorable playoff run.

Wingnut5013

First I would like to say that the win last night against Nashville was great. The Wings responded nicely to Mike Babcock’s challenge regarding intensity and playing with a sense of urgency.

I hope that it sinks in for more than one game because this bi-polar Wings team is really making me nervous. I still think they will make the playoffs, but now I am starting to get the feeling that they will just sneak in were as before I thought they would come off the break and get on their usual late-season roll.

I am a little disappointed about the fact that the trade deadline came and went without one significant move. I think this team is capable of doing some damage with what they have, but I still fee like they need one more key component. If Jimmy Howard can prove to have the composer to be a big-time goalkeeper down the stretch and into the playoffs, and he can get some defensive help, then all will be forgotten about the lack of movement at the deadline. I would also like to think that the big offensive guns need to start hitting. It is always great to see guys like Darren Helm step up and score two goals, but those role players are not always going to get you goals at the most crucial times. Hank, Pav and Burt need to get going again. I also hope to see the Mule kicking some…well, you get where I am going with that.

Big games this weekend. All I got to say is that wins over Chicago would go a long way  to insuring a playoff berth and getting this team back to where we are used to seeing our beloved Red Wings.

Wingnut5013

With the end of the Olympic games, the Red Wings got the final 21 games of the season started out with a bang last night, going into Denver and earning a 3-2 win over the Avs.

With the Wings almost at full strength, I think we saw the team that coach Mike Babcock felt he had at the start of the season. They are the most healthy they have been since the two games in Sweden.

The biggest thing in my mind about last night’s game was the fact that the Wings got the job done in regulation, getting two points and keeping the Avs from earning even one.

Along with being a positive start to the final month of the season, it was nice to see another win over the Avs.

Another thing that impressed me last night was seeing Brian Rafalski in the line up coming off an impressive two weeks in Vancouver.

Speaking of the Olympic team, great job guys we are so proud of you.

wingnut5013

This last week has been a big one for US Hockey, and a big part of that has been due in part to the hot streak by one of our Hockeytown Heroes.

With four goals in two games, including two tonight against Canada in the stunning upset of one of the gold medal favorites, Brian Rafalski has gained a great deal of momentum at the right time for Team USA. That, mixed in with the continuing great goal tending by East Lansing native, former Michigan State Hobey Baker winner and current Buffalo Saber Ryan Miller, has been a charge to the Americans, who will get a much needed bye into the second round of the medal bracket as winners of Group A.

As a proud US citizen, I am thrilled with the current play of our team who may be made up all NHL stars, but many of them are not household names for most casual fans.

Head Coach Ron Wilson was given a team created by GM Brian Burke that was full of character guys, and in the 5-3 win over Team Canada, Team USA showed just that, withstanding a 19-shot first by the Canadians, then having an answer every time Canada wold even the game. Then, on a goal that exemplifies what Team USA is all about, Ryan Kessler, a Livonia Michigan native and current player for the Vancouver Canucks, sealed the game with a hard-fought empty netter.

Kessler hustled down the ice and wormed his way around a Canadian defender to swat the dump-out pass by Zach Parise into the wide open net.

Ralfalski’s first goal was the first of the game, coming at the :40 mark of the first period. This was a big goal not only because it put Team Canada behind right away, but it quieted down the pro-Canada crowd a little right off the bat.

After Eric Staal tied the game at 1-1, Ralfalski came back with another big goal, putting Team USA back on top.

Miller was also masterful in the opening 20, stopping 18 of 19 shots.

Rafalski also assisted on Jamie Langenbrunner’s goal that gave the Americans a 4-2 advantage.

In honor of the last US team to defeat Canada in Olympic play, and maybe to stir up some positive mojo, Team USA wore replica jerseys of the 1960 team’s.

This Team USA maybe a team of destiny, seeing as it was 30 years ago tomorrow that the young group of American college kids knocked off the mighty Soviet Union team in the Miracle on Ice.

Weather the dream tournament ends in gold for the US or not, Sunday’s victory has raised some eyebrows in the international hockey community, and has given the US another reason to be proud in our country. Along with the other athletes that have been racking up the medals, giving Team USA a 6-medal lead over Germany in the overall medal count.

As a Red Wing fan, I am extreamly excited to see a Wing  play such a huge role in the success of Team USA, and hope that Brian can keep the good times going heading into the final stretch run for the playoffs.

Keep watching and USA, USA, USA!!

Wingnut5013

Well, here we are at the Olympic Break and the Wings are still fighting for their playoff lives. As negative as that may sound, I am actually quite pleased with the state of Hockeytown at this moment.

The Wings’ convincing win over Ottawa to close out the pre-Olympic part of the schedule was a thing of beauty, something that has been lacking at times this season.

Now, with more players getting a chance to heal with the two-week vacation, and an almost fully operational Red Wings attack, We are going to see what this team can really do once the season resumes next month. They may not catch Chicago and San Jose, but I think everyone else in the playoff picture in the Western Conference better be leery about the Winged Wheeled Warriors.

If the Wings hang on for a lower seed, The Sharks better hope that the Blacakhawks get the Wings in the opening round. I know San Jose got us last week, every other game against Detroit has brought back flashbacks of the ending of every Jaws movie. Shark ends up blown up or scured or basicly a bloody mess.

With no NHL the for the next two weeks, I will focus my enthusiasm on rooting on former Michigan State goalie Ryan Miller and the rest of Team USA as they look to put an end to the resent ugly trend of poor finishes at the Olympic Games.

GO TEAM USA!!!

Wingnut5013