Soldier On
Well...My morning started alright, I guess. I checked the scores to see that Chicago and St. Louis both dropped their games in overtime. How many Chicago fans do you think asked someone out loud "we still get a point for that, right?"
The Bitter Blues fell to seventh seed San Jose last night in double overtime. The F-bombs dropped over at St. Louis Game Time? 272. There were over three hundred dropped in the final meeting between St. Louis and Detroit...proving that they hate Detroit more than they hate losing in the play-offs.
I made sure to tune into the 'NHL Hour with Commissioner Bettman' yesterday on NHL Home Ice. I wanted to hear what he had to say to the plethora of calls he was sure to get.
More after the jump.
Not to my surprise, Gary made sure that he had more than one 'special guest' calling into the show to eat up air time. I remember in 2009 when I called into the show to ask about Malkin jumping Zetterberg at the end of Game Two of the Finals. The switch board guy said I was next, instead Gary jumped into a chat with the president of NBC...or some crap, I don't remember.
An interesting little tidbit that I heard from out glorious leader was that he thought that Weber pushing Zetterberg's head into the glass was "not that forceful" and if Weber had landed the initial punch that simply grazed the back of Zetterberg's head...that the punishment may have been more sincere.
So we emphasize an "intent to blow" rule, but not an "intent to injure". Let's see Weber slam Bettman's head into the glass and see how "forceful" Gary thinks that it is. By the way - Zetterberg's helmet was cracked in three places...but you know...it wasn't that bad.
Anyway - on to some real Red Wings news. Dan Cleary has been cleared to play in Game Two tonight. Cleary, as most of us know, has been playing one bad knee for a good chunk of the season and will undergo surgery in the post-season (which is NOT close-by).
"I've got bone-on-bone rubbing, which is causing a lot of swelling, a lot of fluid, that's why I get the Baker's cysts in the back that get drained every 10 days. There are a few things going on." --Dan Cleary
That quote coming to us from the Macomb Daily. I know that some of you would have rather seen Gustav Nyquist in the lineup in lue of an injured Newfie - but Cleary looked pretty solid in Game One...and with Helm out, I'm guessing "Goose" will be getting the call.Tonight, I'm sure will see the Wings focus most of their energy on beating Pekka Rinne rather than trying to avenge Henrik Zetterberg. One wise A2Y reader yesterday noted that Shea Weber is lucky he is playing Detroit, as less classy teams might take measures to ensure that he doesn't see Game Three.
Does Weber take liberties knowing that Detroit doesn't really have anyone to send after him? It's possible. And now he knows that he has the League in his corner as well. I can only hope that Trotz tells him to watch his rear and he might play a smidge less agressive...but that's probably a fool's hope.
I hope Abdelkader stayed up late last night watching the Kimbo Slice / Seth Petruzelli Fight.
Just sayin'.
Cleary is pulling a Stevie Y and playing on one knee. That's dedication from a guy the rest of the league looks over, and that's something special.
my take on the lack of Weber's suspension is simple - this year the League is trying to propel Nashville into the Finals. This explains the bogus calls during Game 1, and future calls/dissallowed goals/whatever else they can come up with to ensure Nashville victory. In other words, this series is 'fixed', my friends. What are you gonna do about that?
Way I see it is this.. best way to make Weber pay is every time Weber touches Holmstrom Holmstrom lands on Rinne. It takes Holmers natural ability to always fall towards a goalie and just has it serve a higher purpose. Rinne will get so busy wacking and pushing him that pucks will have plenty of room to go in the net. Then after the game is well out of hand let Ericsson put Radulov's head into the glass and see if the league is consistent.
Re: Nyquist taking Cleary's spot
From the reports I've seen, Nyquist will be taking Helm's spot and will be playing on the 3rd line with Cleary and Abby
I was telling my husband yesterday that I was afraid of how this incident would affect Shea Weber's "performance" through the rest of the games. He basically got a slap on the wrist and a "warning". A cocky person would think, "Hey, I got away with this one, and nothing happened. They aren't going to do anything to me." I know the Red Wings are too disciplined to retaliate physically, so we can only hope they'll go out and retaliate with skill, class and poise. With today being Friday the 13th, maybe Nashville will get some bad luck their way, and it'll be delivered by our very own number 13.
@brandic1313 I am also hoping for some F13 hoodoo to be wrought upon the Turds.
Hopefully something along the lines of Radulov or Erat lining up for a longe-range slapper & catching Weber in the face & decapitating him.
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Looks like Applegator can finally use those boxing lessons he took in the off season...
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People should take a look at the Bitz's suspension explanation on NHL.com. The comment section is almost entirely devoted to the Weber incident. Its interesting to see that even Canuck and Blacksquawk fans are enraged about the Weber incident.
@FiveforFive I've trying to figure out the Bitz vs Weber incidents, I guess the league is saying its ok to take a players head smash it into the glass, but you can't take an elbow to a players head!
