Wings go Wild in Minni

Last nights thrilling shootout win against Minnesota has set up an opportunity for the Wings to overtake the Kings for the eighth spot with about three weeks left before the Olympic break.

A lot of good things to talk about from last nights 4-3 win that nearly became another third-period disaster.

I could not believe it when I saw a two-goal advantage disappear like it did in Dallas on Saturday. However, this time, Jimmy Howard stepped up in OT and in the shootout to give the Wings the win.

I do think Detroit needs to stop letting these third-period leads slip away, but I think we are starting to see the team we thought we had before the season started, and as more guys come back, we will start seeing that more.

I know that there are going to be some roster moves as guys start coming back, but Ken Daniels and Larry Murphy made an observation that I agree with. They think that Babcock will keep Draper, Helm and Eaves together as a fourth line once the injury list is erased clean. I like the idea, especially watching the way Daren can fly up and down the ice, and watching the trio work together. Helm is one of the fastest guys in the NHL and although Draper may have lost a step or two over the years, he still has very good speed as well.

With the Kings coming into Hockeytown tomorrow,  I hope that Jimmy can keep playing like he did in the overtime and shootout. The extra session reminded me of the Wings OT performance against Chicago last weekend, only reversed. The Wild controlled play in the five minute session, but Howard was up to the task of keeping the puck out of the net. Definitely could use a lot of that not only tomorrow, but the rest of the season as well.

The Wings have been sitting in ninth place long enough! Come on guys! Go out there and get over the first hurdle on your way to another playoff appearance. I know LA just downed the Sabers, the top team in the East, but it would be nice to be a little more entrenched in the top eight heading into the break, and getting back into the picture tomorrow would help a great deal.

Be back this weekend to hopefully talk about a very HUGE win over the Kings.

Wingnut5013

Sidenote: About the rumors that the Wings are going to move to the Palace for the 2010-11 season, I don’t see how it will work. Palace Entertainment would have to work the Wings’ home games in with the Pistons’ home schedule, plus the concerts and other events they may already have on the schedule. I know that the defunct Detroit Vipers of the IHL used to play at the palace, but I think to have less than a year to work out a event schedule will be too much of a headache.

I am not sure where the Wings will be playing just yet, my thoughts are they will be back at The Joe. If not, they could move into Ford Field for at least a season. Scheduling would be easier because as we know, the Lions are always done playing by the end of September.