Well...while we're waiting for the diggers to give us some news about tonight's lineup, here's what Zetterberg told the Free Press about tonight's game.

"We've just got to play like we did and take care of our own end, and then we'll get the chances and put them away. It's going to be a challenge for us and we're looking forward to it."

Is Washington's offense comparable to Chicago's?  I'd probably say so.  Chicago has arguably more depth, while Washington's main gunners are more dangerous.  I hate to keep ragging on the guy, but Derek Meech didn't play in our win against the Caps back in October and I think I'll keep my eyes closed if I see him out with with Ovechkin/Backstrom/Semin.

Hurry back, Nik Jr.

Two out of four possible points over the weekend isn't terrible, I guess.  Detroit's schedule seems a little more screwed up than usual this season with West Coast trips ending on Long Island and playing a game in Dallas and then a game at home within 36 hours.

Speaking of that game in Dallas, I know it was a few days ago, but I feel like more should be said:

November 18th, 2009: Brad May finds the puck on his stick and shoots it into the net.  Ref calls it no goal.  The replay shows the puck crossed the line.  Over the net cam shows the puck crossed the line.  Reverse angle shows the puck crossed the line.  No goal.

January 16th, 2010: Steve Ott tries to slide a shootout attempt past Jimmy Howard; he doesn't.  The ref calls no goal.  The replay shows that the puck was never across the line.  Over the net cam shows that the puck never crossed the line.  Reverse angle shows that the puck never crossed the line.  Goal.

Oh...and both of those scenarios just happened to be against the Dallas Stars oddly enough.  Your replay system is broken, Gary, please fix it.

Not really much to say about the Chicago game other than it was a pretty good entertaining game.  If Franzen and Kronwall were playing?  It might have turned out a little different.  Still, it was nice to Detroit let the kids from Chicago know that the team they shut out a few weeks ago is gone forever.

We have yet another chance to climb into the top eight in the Western Conference tonight against the Capitals.  That is, if Detroit wins and San Jose beats Los Angeles later tonight. 

Detroit hasn't played too well in Verizon Center in recent past.  But they did handle the Caps way back on October 10th when Ovi and the boys came to the Joe.  They made Ovechkin look human and they won.  That, of course, was before Derek Meech was in the lineup.  Babcock would do well to make sure #23 or #5 in white is out on the ice when red #8 is on the prowl.

There is something about Detroit playing Dallas that makes the NHL turn into some f'ing retard from the Jersey Shore and somehow NEVER get the f'ing call right.

Unless within 24 hours a clear photo comes out that shows me that the puck was entirely over the line, the NHL just totally f'ed the Wings here. Again. Against the f'ing Dallas Stars.  AGAIN.

There is no way, showing what they did on the SD feed on FSN, to say that the puck was in and overrule the referee that was in perfect position for once.

If there isn't a photo or view that shows up very soon, I'm not sure what more needs to be said that everyone in control of the NHL needs to be fired.  Start from f'ng scratch.

Wings win a game 3-1, play decent, but bet you can't guess who was on the ice for the only goal against?  No, surprisingly not Brett "I'm an offensive defenseman who doesn't score" Lebda.  Yes, obviously the answer is f'ing Derek Meech.

This is clearly a photoshop, as Meech has never hit anyone, ever.

Meech has done the "un-possible" and made me forgot my hatred of Brett Lebda.  During a time when, other than against a team owned by an I don't give a crap Asian named Wang, the defense has been very solid, Meech has pulled off an incredible run of, well, just being terrible.  We need Kronwall back worst than Micheal Moore needs to hit the toilet after a late night Taco Bell run.  In fact, here's a short list players I'd rather have play in Meech's place.

Doug Janik

Actual picture of Doug Janik (as of 1/14/10)

Larry Murphy

Even with his current serious drinking problem, strange hair, and obvious affliction for little boys (okay, I made that up, but doesn't he look like he'd be one of those in this pic?), he'd be better than Meech.

Steve Chiasson

Apparently Chiasson played for the Wings during the Civil War era, because this black and white is the only picture in the world (aka Google) of him playing for Detroit that isn't an autographed hockey card for sale for probably a nickel.  But if he's still alive, which he might be, he'd be better than Meech.  Updated by Drew: Chris was honestly unaware of Steve's tragic and fatal car accident back in 1999.  Please don't hold that against him.  The fact remains that Chiasson was better than Meech.

Mike Babcock

Babbles was a defenseman in his playing days and actually scored 132 points one season in the BHL, which, when converted to NHL points, is 3, one more than Meech.  Reggie Dunlop anyone?

Joe Men's Leaguer

Well, this one might be about the same, because this is where Meech should be playing.  Simply, you can't get much worse.

Traffic Pylon

Because just like Meech, it would just be a minor inconvenience for opposing defensemen.  But unlike Meech, you don't have to feed it during road trips. And it probably gets knocked over less.

The title says it all doesn't it?  How long ago it seems where Red Wings fans like yours truly could just sit back and watch a Wings game and really only care about whether we won or lost.  Because, if you remember back to last year, it didn't matter what the other teams in the West were doing.  The only team we kind of watched on the "Around the NHL" scoreboards were San Jose because we were racing them for #1 spot in the West as well as the President's Trophy.  Well last night/this morning, my score watching went a little something like this...

So I'd like to thank Montreal and St. Louis for keeping the wolves at bay in terms of teams underneath us.  But we didn't make up any ground on the teams that we're chasing...none.

Had the Ducks and Devils done their jobs last night, things would look a lot more rosy.  We'd be in sole possession of 8th place and within an arm's reach of the 5th or 6th spot.

You know who we have to blame?  Jonas Hiller and Martin Brodeur.  Hiller let in 3 goals on 13 shots last night before getting pulled, and Brodeur put up 15 saves on 19 shots total.  Are you kidding me?  Those Phoenix snipers must have pretty awe-inspiring last night.  I have to admit, though, that the LA/ANA highlights that I saw this before leaving for work this morning on the NHL network were quite entertaining.

Well, we got another player back last night and two points regardless.  I feel a whole lot better health-wise too.  And all that separates the Wings from #3-8 in the Western Conference right now is less than three wins away.

Begin salivation.

Hey gang,

Sorry about the lack of posting yesterday and today.  I've been sick as a dog.  I didn't think much of it when I started getting sick to my stomach while watching the Wings game on Tuesday night.

I didn't think much of it when I completely vacated my stomach more than once in the early hours of Wednesday morning. 

I wasn't shocked when I didn't sleep a wink.

Didn't go in to work yesterday.  Doc says it's the stomach flu, but we all know the truth.

It's because Detroit lost 6-0.  To the Islanders. Period.

I could have had tickets to tonight's game against the team ranked 30 out of 30, but no way am I feeling up to that.  In fact, if they lose tonight's game...I just might die.

That's how I feel, anyway.

Thank god last night only happened in my head.  No way the Wings lost to a team that was the worst in the league last year 6-0.  That would never happen...not with Nick at the helm and Z and Dats up front.  Happy thoughts. Never happened.  Shut up.

Two things, one positive, one negative.

• Yesterday I posted a statistic showing the Wings having a ridiculously terrible record against non-playoff teams.  I forgot to look at the bright side, which I am trying to do today.  The bright side is damn bright too, the kind you need sunglasses for.  And not the gas-station kind, the expensive ones that blocks UVA, UVB and UVZ rays.
  
  Against playoff teams, the Wings are an incredible 16-6-3.  That has got to be one of the best records in the league.  So really, who wants to play the Wings when it actually counts in the playoffs?  (Note to Wings players -> it counts right now bitches.  Try winning against one of those bender teams tomorrow...)
  
• Big E comes back Thursday.  So who goes down?   To most, the answer is obvious, Doug Janik, who, once his stint with the Wings is over, will return to his position as the East Kentwood High School janitor.  But I don't think I agree, he's been serviceable, which is more you can say about Derek Meech.  Meech is terrible at everything.  Take defense for example. Even though he's only played in about half the games the past three years, he has managed to be a significantly negative player every year he's played in the NHL (more than 4 games that is).  Hell, even the cup winning year when the Wings had every single player in the top 50 in +/- in the league.  In fact, he's a -25 in that time. 
  
  Offensively, he's actually worse.  Again, even though he's played in 29 games this year AND had time on the powerplay, he has the same amount of points as Franzen.  Two freaking points. Some guy who's played 8 games for Toronto named Carl Gunnarsson has 4 points.  Jesus, I bet Howard is near him in points. 
  

Update at 8:28 PM: I'm sorry...f'k I should have known better.

Just a couple quick notes on the game day today.

• Ville is in tonight.  I hope he gets a realistic chance to show us what he's got.  He's too talented to not be useful for the Wings this season and in the future.  I hope that Babcock gives him a chance to show it.  His season started off with a lack of luck, but until Tuzzi, he didn't keep trucking through it.  His play turned lazy and well, that's not good for anyone.  He's not that skilled.   I want him on a line that can score.  Otherwise, he's useless.  Give him a chance to do what he can do.  He did get 9 points last year in 13 games.  I saw him dominate in GR when he wanted to.  I still believe Ville...
• Ville was supposed to make us forget about Fabian Brunnstrum.  Well, I went to the BJ v. Dallas game this weekend and apparently, Dallas has forgotten about Fabian as well, as he was scratched, even with the multitude of injuries that Dallas has suffered.  If Lieno doesn't end up working out for the Wings, maybe a Fabian for Lieno trade?
• Bring back Aaron Downey.  Drop May.  Now.
• I couldn't be more of a Howard supporter (to lazy to link to old posts..) but I wish Osgood was playing tonight.  I agree with the idea that right now Jimmy gives us the best chance to win, but he can't play every game.   This is a perfect game for Osgood to get back in.  
  
• The Islanders are a good team, better than I think many people realize.  Hopefully the Wings play like they should tonight, they seem to be suck against bad teams.  I've had that feeling for a while, so I finally decided to figure it out myself.  Here's what a date with Excel and NHL.com gave me.
  

So we are a terrible 5-9-2 against non-playoff teams, allowing more than a goal per game as compared when playing playoff teams.  Wow, that's embarrassing.   Someone's gotta tell the Wings that the points against playoff teams count the same as they do against some bender Midget A Team like the Avalanche Ducks. And as I type this, the score of the game is already 1-0 Islanders...

So it's been a while since I've done one of these.  It's kind of hard to not be repetitive especially against teams that we've already faced.  But with a fresh opponent comes a fresh(ish) Pointless Preview.  Here's what I got...

Category #1: Owner's Last Name

New York: Wang....

Detroit: Ilitch...

Kind of funny if you think about it.  The guy has both a word for "sickness" as well as a rash-related symptom.  His name could literally be translated as "sick, scratchy feeling".

Winner: Detroit

Category #2: Team Mascot

New York has Sparky the Dragon

...because dragons obviously have a lot to do with Islanders.

Detroit has Al the Octopus

Like I said in previous Previews, it's one of hockey's oldest and greatest traditions (not the mascot, stupid).

Winner: Detroit

Category #3: Not One Swede?  Really?  Not One?

New York:

Criminal.

Detroit: Hardly a Healthy Swede

Also Criminal.

Winner: Detroit

Category #4: Mike Milbury was our GM (and was Replaced by Our Back-Up Goalie)

New York:  He's been called the "Cousin Eddie" of General Managers

Detroit: Yeah, we passed on hiring Milbury

Winner: New York...Garth Snow actually retired from being back-up goaltender just to take Milbury's job...seriously...you can't even make that kind of thing up.

Prediction: Oh I dunno, I'm thinking we beat them in their barn by the same score they beat us in ours last year.  Wings win this one 2-0.

From the Free Press this morning...

"We did a lot of good things in San Jose, but we've got to be cautious not to have a letdown.  We've got to go into New York and have that same approach. They're not in the same position as the Sharks are, so we have to be careful not to take that for granted. Hopefully we learn from Phoenix -- win a big game, you've got to park it and move on to the next one."

What Stuey is talking about is how the Wings got thumped by Anaheim right after beating up on Phoenix two nights before.  They beat a play-off team and lost to a team outside the top 8.  Well, San Jose is certainly a top 8 team and the Islanders are not.  Stuart recognizes this and wants to make sure they blow this game.

The kids from Long Island have an identical record to Detroit in 2010 (3-1-0).  Their only loss came at the hands of the Dallas Stars.