The following phrases were said tonight: “Franzen wins the race” “Power play goal, Detroit” and “Abdelkader with the hat trick!” And they were all true. I’m scared, too. This game was a lot like the won the Wings just lost to the Wild. The home team carried the play, but the road team scored on their few chances.

And I'm so thrilled for Abby, I'm not going to do that Rocky Denis picture joke this time.

More after the jump:

It's purely just a coincidence that Quincey went down with a possible season ending injury just as Ian White looked like he would spend the rest of the season in the press box, or on the trade block. Since the Wings play has brought us all down maybe its time to have a little fun with our misfortune, especially on the blueline, and especially since Mr. White bares a strong resemblance to one of TV's greatest characters.

Click the jump to find out who.

The Detroit Red Wings are a shell of the team we all know and love. There are a lot of the same players from those former teams, but very little of the consistency we have become accustomed to. Blame it on the injuries all you want, but I'm not buying it. See, when teams want to win they find a way. We have superstars, but we also have players that don't think you need to play solid for 60 minutes, and that's an issue.

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Niklas Kronwall won't be suspended for his hit on Charlie Coyle. This is the right decision. Kronwall's shoulder makes some contact with Coyle's head, but...

48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted. However, in determining whether such a hit should have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable, can be considered.

We'll break that down after the jump:

Detroit wasn’t good enough to win tonight as they fell to the Wild by a score of 4-2. The shrt version of this recap is that the Wild scored when they had chances and the Wings did not when they had theirs.

More after the jump:

Another day, another awesome poster for tonight's game from Josh.  He's had a few days to put this together and I think it is beautiful, in a horribly horribly great way.   Here's Josh: 

Abdelkader, Abdelkader, ABDELKADER!  Say his name 3 times and he finally shows up.  After an amazing game the other night in which Datsyuk used him as target practice, Abby finally did what we needed him to do and helped out.  Maybe it'll work tonight as well... let's see... AbdelJuice, AbdelJuice, ABDELJUICE!

Poster after the break!

LGRW.

Its about time we got back to these.  With the crazy close playoff race, this should be a nearly every morning exercise.  

So with 19 games remaining in the season, we're in the playoffs!  Damn the naysayers.  Not bad for a AHL defense and a forward corps which looks like it is at best the remainder 

PPG is what really matters right now, so we really have to be rooting for a few things that might be a bit foreign to us Wings fans.  

Check 'em out after the break: 

Detroit rebounded after a terrible start and beat the Canucks by a final score of 5-2. Zetterberg got back into his scoring ways as he and Abdelkader put two past Luongo. Cleary got the other goal for the Wings.

More after the jump:

The goals that Abby scored tonight were what we all pictured they would be like if he continued to play with Datsyuk. Pavel would eventually just start banking them in off Abdelkader. Well, those count, too, so whatever gets the job done. Does this mean Babcock was right all along? Of course not. Don’t be silly. Nyquist or Tatar would still be better there, but a win is a win.

Not sure why Brunner got demoted, but he picked up another assist tonight, so whatever.

Fil has been pretty good since coming back from his injury. If all of the guys coming back from injury bounce back like he has, we’ll be in good shape.

Our defense continues to get beat and it’s getting old. I see the way Howard is playing and then I see his numbers and I can’t believe it. How can this guy have a GAA near 3 and a SV% just above .900 when he’s playing so well? Bad defense.

Red Wings own Luongo.

PP scored on the road again, so that’s cool. However, I would like to see us spend less time trying to get Kronwall the puck for a shot. He’s good, but the strength of our power play is our forwards. Hank’s PP goal is a perfect example. Pav gets the puck with a little space, quickly finds Z and it’s in the back of the net. Do that more, k?

NOHS Three Stars of the Game:

First Star A: Pavel Datsyuk. Three helpers tonight and some great defensive play. If you DVR’d the game, go back to when the Canucks had a long 5 on 3. Watch how Pavel hustles and dives to clear the puck and muscles his way into position. Best player in the NHL. Vancouver scores there and they’re right back in the game.

First Star B: Jim Howard. Seriously, if he has the flu and is playing like that, everyone sneeze on him before games. Burrows could have had a career night tonight, but Howard denied him more often than not. His only blemishes were a 2 on 1 six seconds in and an own-goal by Kronwall.

Third Star: Justin Abdelkader. I know those were basically all Pav, but he went to the net like he was supposed to and was rewarded.

Honorable Mention: The whole team rebounded pretty well after such a crushing start to the game. Good to see.

Dishonorable Mention: Think Grand Rapids likes the idea of the Wings calling up Nyquist and then scratching him? The Griffins lost tonight. I bet they would have liked having their best player in the lineup. Yeah, yeah, the Wings won so it’s all okay, right? And if a young free agent like, say, Danny DeKeyser is paying attention, do you think he notices how young players are treated? Just something to consider.

4 out of a possible 6 points on this western road trip. Not bad. Next game is Wednesday night in Minnesota.

LGRW

It worked last night (eventually)...why not tonight?

Maddening... there's been chaos in this team.  They are struggling every game... laboring for a simply two points.  You can be sure, there will be changes tonight.  They won't be what you expect or what you want.  That isn't how this coach operates.  When does he ever appease the fanbase?  NEVER.  DETROIT...HE IS YOUR RECKONING.  Rise, see your team for what it is.  It is only then that you can move forward.  For, it is you that are enslaved by your expectations.  Release yourself, and maybe... just maybe... you'll see a different team on the ice tonight and a dark coach will rise. - Josh Howard, Head of the NOHS Graphics Art Department

Ginger Nut?  Pseudo Poet?  Bring 'em on.

Make the jump for the goods.

Garbage game against an inferior team whom we have a history of dominance against of late. But if Chicago’s streak could come to an end, our “streak of brilliance” is in just as much danger. Pavel Valerievich had other idea, however. Wings beat the Oilers 3-2 in Overtime (great to avoid the shootout) on a Datsyukian Deke and now have just 1 regulation loss in their last 26 games against them going 18-1-7 in that time. I believe they only have 4 regulation losses the last 44 games against this team but I can’t evidence for it. Either way, incredible.