Detroit Red Wings

The Griffins beat the Toronto Marlies last night with an impressive comeback in the last 10 minutes of the game. The Griffins advanced to the Western Conference Finals and face off with the Oklahoma City Barons (Edmonton farm team) starting Friday. I'll be attending the game Friday night and am trying to get as many people as possible to join me. There are a plethora of reasons to jump on the opportunity to go see the Griffins. Here are a few... See Wings prospects in action and get Prospect Boners... They're much more intense when you watch live. $2 beers and $2 hotdogs Cheap tickets. Even glass seats are only $33 The Griffins have a great team and they're a thrill to watch The Griffins organization does a fantastic job of making the whole game experience fun and entertaining Hockey Watch Teemu Pulkkinen and his Holy Slapper and find out why his nickname is "Angus".. Mrazek, Jurco, Tatar, Pulkkinen, Ferraro, Callahan, Billins, Lahsoff, Sheahan, Mursak.. I could go on and on. Please comment if you'll be there, or if you think you may so we can try to coordinate seats. Pass the word around, invite your friends, family, strangers on the street, etc... This Griffins team is a blast to watch. So who's in? I'll be in section 109 Row A, seat 9 There are a few WiiM/Twitter people who are going as well. Who else is interested? Get your tickets here. The Griffins beat the Toronto Marlies last night with an impressive comeback in the last 10 minutes of the game. The Griffins advanced to the Western Conference Finals and face off with the Oklahoma City Barons (Edmonton farm team) starting Friday. I'll be attending the game Friday night and am trying to get as many people as possible to join me. There are a plethora of reasons to jump on the opportunity to go see the Griffins. Here are a few... See Wings prospects in action and get Prospect Boners... They're much more intense when you watch live. $2 beers and $2 hotdogs Cheap tickets. Even glass seats are only $33 The Griffins have a great team and they're a thrill to watch The Griffins organization does a fantastic job of making the whole game experience fun and entertaining Hockey Watch Teemu Pulkkinen and his Holy Slapper and find out why his nickname is "Angus".. Mrazek, Jurco, Tatar, Pulkkinen, Ferraro, Callahan, Billins, Lahsoff, Sheahan, Mursak.. I could go on and on. Please comment if you'll be there, or if you think you may so we can try to coordinate seats. Pass the word around, invite your friends, family, strangers on the street, etc... This Griffins team is a blast to watch. So who's in? I'll be in section 109 Row A, seat 9 There are a few WiiM/Twitter people who are going as well. Who else is interested? Get your tickets here.

If you are like me, then the only Chicago Blackhawks fans you will engage in conversation with are the intelligent, respectful types. Especially on twitter, which sort of corners the market on rude little trolls. @Hockeenight and @AndrewCieslak are two such Hawks fans. Not everyone from opposing fanbases (and their blogs) needs to be angry, venomous, hateful, bitter, poor sports and sore losers with conspiracy theories on the NHL and its officials. With that prefaced, I think everyone should take time to look at this series from a Hawks fan’s perspective and read what was posted on Hockeenight yesterday. The last two games are scary for myriad reasons. First, the Hawks and Wings have a history. You might have heard about it. The phrase "you never went through us" has to strike a nerve. The Blackhawks didn't beat Detroit when the won the Cup in 2010. They never had to. For more: http://hockeenight.com/2013/05/21/killed-the-lord-left-for-the-new-world-.aspx Ah yes. A true statement that is fun to say to Hawks fans when you wish to get under their skin. The article goes on to mention his fear and dread that this is actually happening the way it is, and the frustrations at seeing Joel Quenneville more interested in gooning it up at the end of Game 3 than trying to tie it. Has Q not seen the Boston/Toronto game? A 2-goal deficit with 90 seconds remaining is not the end of the world… But as a Wings fan not from the area, I lack a bit of the hatred that fuels an intense fire burning down all objectivity, reason, and respect when dealing with Chicago fans. So I sort of get to see this thing from the outside looking in, I guess. And I think it is fascinating. Mostly truth written there, Chicago is the better team. We have a history that (since we have dominated) means little to them. But since we have lorded it over them for so long, they wish to cash in on our rebuilding era and league-leading injury rates to finish this rivalry on a good note, which to them means embarrassing us. I just have to believe that ending it the way Game 1 played out, a 4-1 stomping and the potential for a sweep (just ask any “expert”), is ill-befitting of the nature of this great rivalry. The two organ-i-sations have gained great renown over the years. The Hawks now have Scotty Bowman and quest after the same dynasty that we once held. The Wings have 22 consecutive playoff appearances, 6 times reaching the Stanley Cup Final and winning 4 in that stretch. We have been and admirable, if not honourable, foe for all of our rivals along the way. This fight does not end abruptly. It may not end pleasantly, either, but at least everyone will know that battles on the ice being fought by rookies and led by European players deemed to lack talent (you are an idiot, Glen Healy) will still end this rivalry with as much intensity and competitiveness as it rightfully deserves.

The Blackhawks have enjoyed a storybook season after going 24 straight games without a regulation loss to start the year and a Chicago Tribune columnist wonders if they can overcome the type of adversity they never faced en route to the NHL's regular-season championship.

Howard became first Red Wings goalie since 1987 to face 40 or more shots and allow only one goal in a playoff victory.

Red Wings News Pavel Datsyuk may not be naturally gifted, but he works hard, says Glenn Healy (Video) | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! SportsYeah, I totally agree. Datsyuk is soooo overrated. It's mostly luck if you ask me. Anyone can do the things he does, it's just that he happens to be in the right place at the right time. Gustav Nyquist Got Hit in the Nuts Then Scored An Awesome Goal | Pucking WingsHe's a man of steel!!! Ericsson helps fill big holes on Wings' defense | TSNHe's filling them pretty nicely. Detroit Red Wings' Jakub Kindl's patience pays off with playing time | Detroit Free Press Best defenseman outside of the top-two. Can the Red Wings Upset the Blackhawks? | The Hockey Writers This next game will be key. If we win, the series is ours. If we lose, then anything can happen. Either way, this season has been a success. Duff: Wings a work in progress | Windsor Star A work in progress that is clicking at the right time. Jimmy Howard in a groove for Red Wings | CBC Jimmy has been absolutely fantastic. *But he's overpaid* NO HE IS NOT. He's worth every penny we can pay him. HOCKEE NIGHT - The Malört of Hockey Blogs: Killed The Lord, Left For The New World If you want to win the cup you have to go through Detroit. It's as simple as that. NHL News Now Stephane Roy says he doesn’t know if the Avs will hire his brother | ProHockeyTalkStupid Roy's. Columbus Blue Jackets noticing upswing at box office after second-half hot streak on ice - The Hockey NewsThat is understandable. When you are winning, people (especially the casual fans) become more interested and chose to go to games. Caps owner Leonsis apologizes for team’s playoff failure | ProHockeyTalkTrade Ovechkin and build a team around Mike Ribiero. Canadiens sign Swedish prospects: defenceman Nygren, forward Collberg - The Hockey News Collberg's good. I don't know anything about the defenseman though. Report: Leafs’ Komarov in negotiations with KHL club | ProHockeyTalkIt's his old team, Dynamo Moscow. Unsung Hero: Rob Scuderi remains critical ‘piece’ for defending champ Kings | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! SportsHe's experienced and he is good defensively. That is stuff that is key during a cup run. Juuso Ikonen - The Next Ones - The Hockey Writers This guy is really good offensively. Size is an issue though. He's only 5'9''. Canadiens' Emelin out six months after ACL, MCL surgery | TSN Might miss the very beginning of the next season. Stanley Cup playoffs 2013: Joel Quenneville disagrees with disallowed goal call - SBNation.comIt was a no-goal. Stop crying Chicago and drink your medicine. You better be prepared for what's coming. Avalanche remain quiet as Roy speculation continues | TSN The thing that intrigues me is that the Av's haven't denied it yet. Because of that I think that it is a possibility that Roy may be hired as their next coach. Dallas to unveil new uniforms, make ‘significant announcement’ on June 4 | ProHockeyTalkNew logo maybe? I don't know. Still, it is kind of interesting. Oklahoma tornado hits close to home for AHL’s Barons | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! SportsHow devastating this is for the people of the affected communities... Preds hire Phil Housley as assistant coach | ProHockeyTalkMaybe he will help improve the Predators terrible defenseman. Especially that Weber guy, he sucks. Let's Go Red Wings!

Alternate title: Wherein I Learn Just How Small a Man Patrick Kane Can Be, Much to My Delight! Read on for the full explanation - and visuals. This is a follow-up to my previous post here. Not to be too self-indulgent about my experience last night on the glass at The Joe, but I wanted to create this follow-up post to share a few anecdotes, show a bit of what you couldn't (but Patrick Kane definitely DID) see, and thank you folks for the ideas that made an already extraordinary affair for me that much cooler. What I conceived as a short post became my personal memoir of the night. This all get less wordy and more picture booky as we go, so bear with me, or just skip the verbosity and see the fun stuff further down. Preface: The Prep After a night and morning well-spent, ready for the raising were Giant Jimmy Face on foamboard, Enlarged-and-in-Charged Mrs. Donna Kane on foamboard, unmounted backups of each (in the event the big boards were no-no'd at security) and the following five of "her" choicest quotations, along with five blank speech bubbles - just in case. Unfortunately, these weren't visible to the TV audience, but Patrick saw them...Oh did he see them. In the order in which they were shown "PATRICK THOMAS KANE! You missed your haircut AGAIN, young man!". Click to see "Why can't you be more like that Zetterberg?" Click to see "Dinner plans with Pavs. Don't wait up, Patrick. I hear he's MAGIC" Click to see "Patrick, honey.... YOU'RE ADOPTED" Click to see "Damn but Zetterberg's Royal Swedish balls are TASTY!".... RIP :n( Chapter I: Gaining Entry After several deep breaths and the chirp of the barcode scanner, I did my best to fly casual, but briskly, past the kindly folks who screen for killers, and profane signs apparently, among the visitors to The Joe. I was not successful. Something about the 4 ft poster of Jimmy tucked under my arm made me a bit conspicuous SOMEHOW. The first usher, name erased from memory by the beer consumed later, asked politely to preview "what I had there". Me: "Oh, sure. Well, that's Jimmy." Usher: "Yea, and who's this one?" Me - choosing the foolish valor of honesty: "Donna Kane". Usher: Me:"Patrick Kane's Mom". What followed, three seconds of stunned silence and a bewildered expression from this Usher felt like a minor eternity, then Usher:"You're serious?" Me: "Yup" Usher: "I don't... Jim, look at this." Jim, his supervisor, is a credit to Olympia Entertainment, Hockeytown, and humanity. He took a look at the sign, repeated the question about the mystery woman's identity, then tried VERY hard to stifle a chuckle, but failed, and gave me the OK - on condition that I not disrupt anyone's view of the play with Donna's proud smile and thoughtful contributions to her son's big night. Then it was time for the individual caption boards to pass review. Each got a pleasant little snorted laugh and the thumbs-up from Jim, except the 5th and final sign - the Zetterballs homage. In retrospect, that may owe to my highlighting the words "Zetterberg's, Royal, Swedish, Balls, and Tasty", but I was willing to concede that one for the greater trolling good. It would not be the only casualty on the night. Chapter II: Patrick the Lesser or What Happened to the Mounted Mrs. Kane? Before the game even started and long before friends would text me shots of Jimmy-sign on NBCSN, it was all worthwhile. With half a troll-boner (full disclosure: a full one), we charged our way over opposite our seats to the Blackhawks's end for warm-ups. And arrived way too early. So we waited. And waited.... And suddenly there they were. Bedecked in all their nauseating, uh, THEM-ness, Patrick and co took the ice - and Donna took to the glass to greet her son. Her first message concerned the length of his helmet-escaping curls of pettiness and a certain missed appointment that might have tended that ugly mop of his. It took several rotations around the rink for him to notice HIS OWN MOTHER, but he did, and the

DETROIT – The Wings continue to win most of the draws taken through three games of the series. After winning 52 percent of the faceoffs in Game 1, they increased it to 55 and then 56 over the next two games. “It’s definitely a factor,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. “We’ve got to get better in that area. That’s definitely an area that’s a point of emphasis going forward. All zones. All critical ones, special teams, PK, offensive-zone faceoffs we’ve given up a couple goals the last two games.” Detroit’s first goal was directly associated with a lost draw in the Wings’ zone. “Well, you’ve got a tendency to look at the guy you’re against and what his tendencies are and getting an even puck drop is what we’re looking for, finding ways where … if you’re not going to win it, we’ve got a 50/50 chance along the line,” Quenneville said. “So, there’s more work we can do and not just counting our centermen coming up with the win and not just laying the onus on them.” Every Wing that took at least two faceoffs in Game 3 won at least 55 percent of the time. “Our power play, it starts with faceoffs,” Quenneville said.

DETROIT – If anything, the Detroit Red Wings have gotten the full attention of the Chicago Blackhawks. And at the end of the Wings’ 3-1 win Monday night in Game 3 of their best-of-seven Western Conference tempers began to boil over. The rough stuff began when Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith skated by and took a cheap shot at Damien Brunner to draw a minor for roughing with the Blackhawks trialing 3-1 with six minutes to play in the third period. “It’s always a fine line not to get penalties and play on the edge,” Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson said. “We’ve had really good penalty killing so far in these playoffs, but we know they have a lot of skilled players who can make a difference in a game if we give them too many power plays. It’s a fine line there, but you’ve got to play tough. It’s obviously a different level in the playoffs. If you could play a little bit harder on their top guys, that would be good I think.” With a minute to play, Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell was assessed a cross checking penalty on Daniel Cleary, while the Wings forward was defenseless on the ice. “Just playing like that doesn’t give us the green light to take unnecessary or undisciplined penalties,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. “There’s always a discipline that goes behind everything we talk about, whether it’s playing with a purpose … but the purpose of discipline is No. 1.” The final penalty was on Chicago forward Andrew Shaw, a 10-minute misconduct with 13 seconds left in regulation. “We need to be more on the edge, like we played last game,” Chicago forward Marian Hossa said. “We have great intensity and I felt like lots of energy. Also, you don’t want to go over the board and take bad penalties, because they’ve got really good players on the power play. You have to be smart about it.” Things were actually quite chippy in the first period. Just four minutes in, Andrew Shaw caught Brendan Smith with an elbow. Later, Brent Seabrook knocked Daniel Cleary off balance sending him crashing into the net and then into the end boards. Keith then motioned like he was going to push the net over top of Cleary while he was on the ice. Detroit’s only power play of the period came as a result of a scrum in the front of Howard between all the players on the at the time. Kyle Quincey and Bickell were both assessed two-minute unsportsmanlike penalties, while Shaw got the extra two for roughing. “I think at the end, you could definitely see some of the frustration coming out,” Jonathan Ericsson said. “After whistles, they were maybe paying too much attention to us. They were doing things after whistles. That’s a good thing for us, if we can get them frustrated. We want to do that all day to them.” Wings coach Mike Babcock isn’t ready to say that his squad has gotten under the Blackhawks’ skin. “It’s playoff hockey,” Babcock said. “So it’s going to be battles out there and you don’t want to lose any of those battles. It’s going to be tough to play and I think we’re just going to have to keep doing the same things.” Conversely, the Wings didn’t lose their temper in their 4-1 loss in Game 1. “I think it’s a little bit of anger about what we are doing right now,” Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival said. “We (didn’t) want to get behind 2-1 against an opponent like this. I think everybody is kind of, not happy, with the way we’ve played and I think it’s a good thing. It can give us a boost of energy. Playing with a little bit of anger going forward, you know, it’s not a bad thing. I think it’s going to help us (going) into Game 4 and obviously we have to play better and step up our game.”

Detroit coach Mike Babcock cautioned that his club hasn't done anything yet. Chicago's Joel Quenneville realizes they're back to square one with a victory in Game 4 Thursday.

DETROIT – Wings coach Mike Babcock on whether or not there should have been a penalty on Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson after hitting Johan Franzan into the boards from behind early in the third period of Game 2. “It should have been a two-minute penalty,” Babcock said. “This is the way I look at it. Those referees are trying to get to the Stanley Cup final like the rest of us and it’s fast. When I watch the replay and see it, it’s a penalty. They don’t get to watch the replay.” With Franzen down in the corner, Duncan Keith lofted a pass out to Patrick Kane, who got behind the Wings’ defense and beat Jimmy Howard between the pads just 4:32 in.