The word getting around is that Holmstrom may have to miss the Olympics with his banged-up knee.  There is also word that Franzen (with his banged-up knee) might be Holmer's replacement...

So which would you rather have playing in the Olympics?

Neither.

If Holmstrom has a bruised/sprained/whatever kind of problem with his knee, then it's only going to get better with time.  So why put yourself at risk of making it worse?  If Holmer plans on playing his game (gritty, in front of the blue paint), he puts himself at an increased risk of getting hurt again (obviously).  If Sweden's strategy is to use him in any different manner, then why bother using him at all?  That'd be like Yzerman telling Crosby to toughen up and be the enforcer (groins, beware!)

And Franzen just needs to chill.  Seriously, dude.  You're already pushing it by coming back so soon.  We were all so pleased when you told Team Sweden that you were coming back for the Wings, and not for them.  Don't let them guilt you into putting yourself and our big play-off push at risk.

Let's be smart here.

We come to it at last, the final issue.  And who better to unveil at the end than the pair that serves at the Save-the-Play-offs Super Team's last defense.  Ladies and gentlemen, the goalies...

Chris Osgood as The Comedian...

A warrior battle tested, hardened, and perhaps a little cynical.  But when it's crunch time, he usually gets the last laugh.

Jimmy Howard as Harry Potter...

He possess unmeasurable potential.  The boy may stumble along the way of his journey, but the man he will become is destined for greatness.

So there you have it, all of the major players (for now).  Perhaps more issues are in order as time goes on, but paint needs a break and so do I.

Now we know why Jimmy doesn't wear glasses...yikes.

We've seen the glamour and gritty out of the defensive core, but unfortunately if the Red Wings are going to save the 2010 Post-Season, they may need to rely on this unlikely pair down the stretch...

Brett Lebda as The Green Hornet...

A smaller and fairly powerless hero, he usually depends on his more theatrical partner to get the job done.

 Jonny Ericsson as The Juggernaut...

He's 6'5, you know.  This tower of power is still trying to figure out to fully utilize his sheer mass, and until he does, friend and foe beware of his destructive path.

You want to know what the sad(dest) part about all of this is?  I spent the most time out of all of these on Brett Lebda.  I had to use his Notre Dame class photo.  He was a tough one to think of too, but I thought I came up with a pretty perfect one in the end...everybody knows that show stuck around for so long because of Bruce Lee as Kato and not because of...um...whoever played the actual Green Hornet.

From the Free Press early this morning...

Mike Babcock walked into the visitors' room at Scottrade Center, looked over at Jimmy Howard and asked him if he was tired.  When Howard said no, Babcock laughed, and asked him if he was ready to play the next game. Howard, naturally, said yes.

And thus, Mike's will be done.  Babcock has never pulled any punches on the subject.  He certainly wasn't going to start now...

"I'm committed to finding a way to win.  We have a group of people in our organization that actually have been around hockey a little bit, and we talk about what we think is best to help our team. Then we make the decision accordingly."

That group he's referring to includes Kenny Holland, Steve Yzerman, Jim Bedard, and his assistant coaches (one with bad hair and one with a sweet 'stache).

When Babcock was asked about getting Osgood in to avoid the "rust buildup"...

"I want to go into the playoffs -- how's that?" he said. "I mean, that's great to have this fantasy thing, if everything ... no. We've got to get in. So we've got to win today.  It's different than other years, in the fact that you could have a five-game rotation planned -- that just hasn't been the case. And we think Howie has played real well for us. The other thing is, this thing that he might be tired or something like that -- he's 25 years old. He's not tired. Not mentally. He wants to play. ... We think he's given us the best opportunity."

Why don't you tell us what you really think, Babbles?  Oh wait, you do...always.

Thankfully, Ozzie refrained from complaining:

Well, we recorded OTL number eleven last night.  Only one other team has dropped more games in extra innings than the Detroit Red Wings.  And they just happen to be one point behind us in the standings.  Speaking of the Western Conference Standings, have you looked at them lately?

That's right...the Ducks are one win away from passing us.  If they beat Edmonton tonight, we'll be hitting the double digits...ouch.

If Detroit had just closed out 5 out of those 11 OTL's, we'd be sitting in 7 place right now with a three point cushion.  I don't want to be sitting here typing "if" scenarios come spring because the Wings didn't make the post-season.

We all wondered how they would respond to the desperate situation of being on the outside looking in (in terms of the top 8).  Well, it hasn't been good thus far.

At least Ottawa had the decency to oust Calgary in regulation.

Get it going, boys.

As Drew Sharp once told the Chief, "I don't care what fans or bloggers think."  That's why I disabled the comment section, so you people wouldn't dirty up my site with your mundane drivel...

Just kidding.

Apparently, other Bloguin sites were having the same problem with commenting today...I blame the logo.  Regardless, the administration sent out instructions on how to help get the commenting back on track and I think it worked.  So comment away, people.

I've missed your input, Twig, Eats, and everyone esle.

Our top two are the glory and glamour of the defensive corps, but the two that follow them have a much darker and mysterious way about them.  They might not be Norris material, but more often then not, they make sure the job gets done...

Brad Stuart as Severus Snape...

Friend or foe?  This man has considerable power no doubt, but his actions at times can almost be interpreted as acts of treachery, but deep down...we know he has good intentions.

Nicklas Kronwall as The Punisher...

His justice comes swift and without mercy, this man is on a quest for reckless vigilantism, and will stop at nothing to see the wicked get what's coming to them.

We're down to the last two issues...

Tonight has the making of a game that, this year at least, has made me want to throw a puppy.   I hate this type of game more than Adam West hates baseball cards.  It has all the makings of a game where the Wings should be able to pick up two points, but haven't, thus making me a little closer to going all Jack Nicholson on little Danny out in the countryside.

What are those signs that make me cower in fear?

1.)  It is a Tuesday.  I've done a study and 100% of the time the Wings have played on Tuesday, they've lost.  Did you know that Tuesday's were created by a collaboration between Al Gore and the Devil?  Maybe not, but I bet you suspected that.

2.)  It is on Versus.  The Wings haven't won on Versus since Chris Chelios was a Pee-Wee.  F' Gary Bettman...ass.

3.)  The Blues suck.  Really, they do.   And the Wings never win against teams they should beat.  I would link to where I actually did look up the statistics, finding that the Wings had a ridiculously terrible record against teams in the shitter, but I don't want to start a self-link masturbation party like the worst blog on the internet regularly does.   I also don't try to figure out who the Lady Bing winner is multiple times during the season, but then again, maybe I would if I didn't have friends, was a greasy fatass, and was dumber than Kanye West and unable to comprehend even simple arguments.  And the still Blues suck.

4.)  The Wings managed to lose THREE players last game.  That is a new g-damn record.  What's next...four????

5.)  The Wings need the points more than ever.  Which means NOTHING to them apparently.

Our only hope than lies on the Mule.  Not that I expect him to score or really be anything out of the ordinary.  The season started going down the toliet when he was injured.  Maybe his return is the end of our voo-doo curse and we will be back to watching the Wings as we know em.

Please.

What a google images find.  If you did this, please let me know.  Amazing.

Khan(!) has wandered off the grid again, luckily Ms. St. James is on the case...

Tomas Holmstrom left early from this morning’s optional skate at Scottrade Center, where tonight the Red Wings take on the St. Louis Blues.

Here are the lines if Holmstrom is good to go...

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom
Franzen-Filppula-Cleary
Bertuzzi-Miller-Williams
Draper-Helm-Maltby

If Holmstrom can't go...

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Franzen
Bertuzzi-Filppula-Cleary
Draper-Helm-Maltby
May-Miller-Williams

I actually don't know how the Maltby-May thing would work...the 3rd and 4th lines in the second stanza are a blind guess.

Defensive pairings should remain the same as last game with Kronwall out of the lineup and we already know that Jimmy is starting.

They say that a good defense is a good offense.  They also say that defense wins championships.  This pair would agree with the latter saying...

Nick Lidstrom as Superman...

The ultimate hero, compared to him, all other pale in comparison.  His abilities are too numerous to count...it almost doesn't seem fair.

Brian Rafalski as Captain America....

He will help lead Team USA into battle next week in Vancouver, and hopefully, the Red Wings into another successful post-season.

The issues will continue to roll on so long as you people stay interested.