Amateurs vs Red Wings Recap 1.14.2012
Still trying to catch my breath after that one. Amazing final 25 minutes there. While it took OT to beat a bunch of amateurs, it resulted in 2 points and the home winning streak is at 14.
Jump for more recappage:
Flukes. Two Chicago goals, two flukes. One off of the boards and to a wide open tool bag and another off of Lidstrom's perfect skates. It happens. Annoying that Chicago gets a point off of flukes, but considering the puck jumping Howard's stick in the first and him making the save of the night, it could have been worse.
That third period was terrible. At least early on. Turns out our all-star goalie is better than their three all-star forwards. Ha! But honestly, when Miller went off for 4 minutes in the middle of all that pressure, I thought we were in trouble. Still, the guys did a great job killing it off and Miller almost scored out of the box, but he shot it low. Don't shoot low on these goalies and their 2,800 square feet of padding. Go high.
Loved Helm's check late in the game that resulted in him on a 2 on 1 with Cleary. Don't recall who he hit, but you can tell he didn't expect to get hit like that. Awesome.
James Howard. What can I say about him? He was the difference tonight. Our goalie is better than their goalie and it showed. His son was at the game tonight, too. I'm sure that gave him a boost. Good to see him give props to Mike Vernon at intermission, too. It's easy to remember how great Hasek and Osgood were, but without Vernon, Osgood isn't the goalie he turned out to be.
Hank was Hank today. Good shots, good looks at the net, strong on the puck. The goals will come. He's too good to not score.
Why must Pierre McGuirre always ask other people if they agree with him? "Detroit is really forcing the play, huh Edzo and Doc?" "Chicago doing much better on the draws today, wouldn't you say, Edzo?" Hey man, if you don't know, just be quiet. What good is having a second commentator if he a) doesn't know what's going on, 2) is so desperate for approval that he asks for it or III) is Pierre McGuirre? just once I'd like to hear Doc say, "No, I don't think so at all."
Ian White was great today. He really looked like a young Rafalski out there. One who plays strong in his own zone. Nice deflect-able shot for Homer, too.
Once again, Chicago gets more power plays than Detroit. Those chances Chicago got were legit, but Chicago got away with stuff all night. Good to see they still can't beat us even when they have the refs in their pocket. And hey, no penalty shot! On that note, Edzo was grumbling about another too-many-men penalty that he claims the Wings got away with. No one played the puck, but he died a little inside when it was missed. Later on, Chicago absolutely got away with too-many-men but Edzo, like the refs, missed that one. It happens.
NOHS Three Stars:
First Star: Howard. 2 fluke goals robbed him of his shutout, but he was good enough to get the win. He's awesome.
Second Star: Todd Bertuzzi. When Bert plays well, the Wings don't lose. Tonight he was awesome. He also knows to shoot the puck high on his breakaway chances, which is why he's so good one on one against the goalie. The GWG was just him being in the right place at the right time and burying the shot.
Third Star: Pavel Datsyuk. That pass on Bert's first goal was something that only Pavel could pull off. While being interviewed by Pierre, Bert said of Pavel: "I'll tell you right now that Pavel Datsyuk is the best player I have ever played with." I believe that.
NOHS Favorite Moment of the Game: Pierre McGuirre interviewing Quinneville and suggesting they switch the lines a bit, then, low and behold, Chicago changes their lines. Blackhawks fans, your dignity was saved by Pierre McGuirre, today. Enjoy.
Next game is Monday against the Sabers. Puck drops at 7:30 EST.
LGRW
I am almost cetain now that by removing Edzo and Pierre from NBC commentary all forms of cancer may be cured.
Does anyone know of a way to find out when Pierre the Douche's contract with NBC runs out? I long for the days of Thorne and Clement on ESPN. Pierre ruins every broadcast. I personally liked when Milbury called Pierre out and said the Pens are his favorite team, and Pierre had to admit they were. He makes me sick.
Just a little note. Goalie padding is the smallest it's ever been. In the history of the sport. Ever. It's goalie skill to be able to butterfly well that means shooting low makes for easy saves. Please don't encourage them to f*%$ around with goalie stuff anymore!
@Reddy Just from visual observation, it appears to me that the big difference is the height above the knees. With huge square padding extending all the way up to the crotch, the knees don't need to be anywhere near together to touch pads while down in the fly. That means that the entire net can be covered while plopping into the horsefly. I think Twig's pictures below tell that story as well.
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@Reddy http://info.detnews.com/dn/pix/2005/08/09/sports/a009-osgood3-0805y_08-09-2005_KP7Q0GR.jpg
http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_581/1297395937a1QMF9.jpg
i've always believed that if niemi had to wear chris osgood's old pads, he'd be a backup in the AHL.
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@Reddy i don't see how that's possible. look at the pads osgood used in the 90's, then look at niemi's pads today. all he has to do is stay down and the bottom of the net is completely covered.
are they more narrow today? i'd maybe buy that, but i can't believe that the pads are actually smaller.
The best part about NBC games in Detroit is Pierre being stuck in the tiny Murphy box.
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Refs were full of crap. Right calls against us, but we should have had, by my count, 5-7 PP today if you only count the blatant and must-call stuff. I felt like this was the strongest game I have seen Jimmah play. While the Hawks and refs were dominating us in the 3rd, Jimmah dominated them all. Jimmah > Blackhawks+Refs
@ThroatShot yeah there was two seperate times that the refs let the blackhawks just sit there and hold onto the Red Wings players sticks and nothing came from it, i was not happy at all. at least Detroit got off to the right start in the first period.
ha great recap. pierre mcquire makes me want to stab myself in the ear. every single time he talks, like you said, he's constantly asking questions. you're between the benches for a reason deuche. tell us what's going on between the benches. report on what the players are saying, how the coaches are coaching. naaaw, i'll just annoy the fuck outta everyone.
When miller highsticked that guy (forget who it was) looked like he was diggin up his nose searching for blood, rather then it coming out on his own. Very "blackhawk" like ..
