First and foremost, up front, I want to know what you all think of this regular season. It only ended on Saturday, and with the playoffs beginning Tuesday it seems there is no time to reflect. Playoff mode, where this team tries every year to find their STFU switch in the complete inky darkness and flip it, is here.

But since this team cannot look back on how this season went, allow us to do that for them. What really will we be saying about this season, years from now? I think I will remember the disappointment the off-season free agent signings brought about. And Mikael Samuelsson proving the point of everyone that criticized Ken Holland. I will remember our namesake was injured essentially the entire season. Jim Howard, slow out of the gates, turned it on when we most desperately needed him and finished the regular season with a 0.964 Save Percentage in April.

Then there was the rise of the young guns, guys like Nyquist, Brunner (who fell off the pace once people “caught on to his tricks,” as Mick would say), Andersson, Kindl, Lashoff, and even Abdelkader. A career year in a 48-game season? I guess moving a third line grinder to Datsyuk’s line will do that.

Wow, have we let all of you down.  Probably the biggest weekend of of regular season hockey for the Wings in 22 or so years and what do we bring you?  A couple recaps, and that's it. 

Well in that time, Jim Nill, Wings assistant GM who's consistently been a topic of rumors of his leaving to become the GM of somewhere, has been hired by Dallas to be their GM.  We all knew it was coming eventually, as Holland told CBC: 

“I think Jim Nill was ready to be a GM five, six, seven years ago,” Holland, the Red Wings GM and Nill’s boss the past 15 years, said in a phone interview Sunday. “Most of the teams that have made GM changes [during that time] have called to ask for permission to talk to Jim Nill.

“For a variety of reasons he’s chosen to stay but I know he wants an opportunity to be a manager.”

That he's finally leaving should come to the surprise of noone.  I mean, it has been almost certain that anyone who has a mustache these past few years, you're going to leave Motown.  Look at the evidence:

And of course, Jim's got a killer stache.

New rule - no facial hair for anyone in the coaching staff/management.  

So anyways, how bad will Detroit miss him? 

More after the jump: 

There it is, Hockeytown. 22 straight playoff appearances for the Detroit Red Wings. I never doubted them. Okay, so I doubted them. But only when they appeared to doubt themselves. This team that we’ve seen the last four games? They’re capable of breaking some hearts in the playoffs.

More after the jump:

Red Wings were down early and it looked for a short time that they would play down to their competition, but they found another gear in the second and took over after that.

More after the jump:

He might not be wearing the C, but he's been the team MVP (well, maybe co-MVP) almost every night.  

At the very least, we can rely on excellence out of #35. 

Jimmy's just about taken that next step into the world of elite goaltenders and today Josh Howard's rewarded him with his very own movie poster. 

It's a big one for a big game tonight, after the break: 

What a great effort by this team. If you're counting, that's two straight game 7 wins for the Detroit Red Wings. They're getting it done at both ends of the ice and everyone is chipping in.

More after the jump:

Bertuzzi's not in for the Wings.  Neither is Sammy (thankfully).  Brown is out for the Kings.  

But you know what?  That doesn't matter. 

All that matters is one thing.  Winning. 

And that's Josh's message for tonight, after the break: 

Didn't that feel good?  The Wings not only won, but won by scoring 4 goals.  FOUR!  Remember when that was our average per game?  

Ahh the good ol' days.  

Yesterday was a day when everyone played hard.  The kid line looked stupid fast and furious. Franzen actually moved his feet towards the net!  Abdelkader threw his body around so much I actually thought he deserved to be o nthe first line there for a moment.  

If they play like they did yesterday, they will make the playoffs.   Because if you compare the talent between Detroit and their two competitors for the last spot, Dallas and Columbus, there isn't even a question of who has the most.  Detroit's talent level is still in the top 5-10 in the league.  

What the other two have, Columbus espeically, is a level of hustle and determination that Detroit hasn't seen since Zetterberg shut down Crosby in 2008.  It is honestly inspiring to watch the Jackets these days, because they aren't winning on anything other than heart.  

Hit the jump for more on Detroit's heart: 

Red Wings pick up a huge two points and Jimmy Howard gets his 4th shutout of the season as they beat the Coyotes 4-0. If this team plays this way for the rest of the season, they have a good chance of making it to the playoffs.

More after the jump:

Wings lose a game they just about had to win. They got a point, but needed two. Wings still have a game in hand on Columbus, but are one point behind in the standings.

Recap after the jump: