Editor’s note: Here is a screenshot from Jason Williams game winner, as he is burying it home.
If you had asked me when the season started if I thought I would finally be writing that post title after the 10th, yes the 10th game of the season, I would have called you a dirty whore. Because despite getting the win tonight, and thank baby Jesus for that, it has been a rough season.
After a slow and painful start last night, the Wings pulled it together and had a strong overall effort. It was a relief to see some aggression and drive on the forecheck. There are still pieces missing, and a decisive win it was not, but I hope they can build off this.
A few random, yet hopefully coherent thoughts about the game:
- First off, this season I have learned to count the small blessings, to cherish things I usually would take for granted or ignore. For example when Center Ice has the Detroit feed when the team is away. That just warms my cold heart. So you can imagine my discomfort and slight distress during the opening segment when I was pretty sure Ken Daniels was going to bend over with the Canadian media in honor of the holy Luongo. Luckily, instead, he got off his knees and refrained from forcing me to yell obscenities at the TV.
- Speaking of media salivating, I am pretty sure all members of the Detroit media have been instructed to wet their pants over Bertuzzi at least once a day. If they don’t, Ken Holland has instructed Bertuzzi to eat their pet. I get it, Bertuzzi’s played well…..but get off his junk, it’s not like we are witnessing the second coming…
- I will say I had a moment of dread/concern when I found out McCreary was officiating. When this hockey season officially ends, one of the highlights will be this Wings hater retiring.
- About 30 second into the game it appeared as though the Wings would keep one aspect of their season consistent, losing on the road. Sedin (without the aid of his bro and bff for life) scored on a play that, gulp, started with Sammy breaking out of the defensive zone. I’m sorry I didn’t like to see or write about that either…
- Following the live blog over at A2Y, superstar member of the 19, JJ had one of the best comments of the night, “ Meh, shit the bed early and you get more time to clean up your mess.” Damn, that was eloquent, classic, and to the point. I’m not touching that one.
- Murphy, was either drunk, delusional, or the best combination, a little of both, when he commented that the Wings are one of the best teams in the league which is why all other teams are so amped to play them….hmmmmm love ya Murph, but at the start of the game the Wings were 1, yes 1 point ahead of Nashville. I’m not sure that qualifies you as a league leader, at least not to the rational. But if that is the world Murphy is living in, I just wish he would share the Kool-Aid with the rest of us.
- At one point the camera pans over to Holland and Yzerman , and both had such a terrifying look that I am pretty sure if you put your children in their path, they would eat them.
- 7:05 into the first, Vancouver scores again. It was kick to the balls. Panic set in, I was pacing, the room I watched the game in cleared, and myself and my loved ones began to prepare for the worst, a Wings loss.
- When Babcock rightfully pulled Ozzie (and not sure what happened to Babs, but I was glad to see that for once he didn’t wait until the Wings were down 5 goals to pull him) I made some off handed, slightly bitchy comment along the lines of, “Oh good, Howard, the Wings Hockey Jesus is here to save them.”
- Yeah I would like to take that back. Howard played the best I have ever seen him play. Sure, he still occasionally flops around like he is Hasek without the talent, but tonight he was solid. He kept the Wings in the game. Despite the fact that I hate admitting when I put my foot in my mouth, I’ll sacrifice part of my dignity and congratulate Howard on a job well done. There, that’s enough. I will save further accolades until he consistently performs.
- Before the second goal the Red Wings seemed lackadaisical. There was no forechecking, no aggression, and I am pretty sure the forwards forgot how to backcheck. Once Ozzie was pulled they seemed to use the proverbial bitch slap to step up their game.
- It was soon after this that Zetterberg had a breakaway and was robbed by Lugono. Between Bertuzzi’s chances and Zetterberg, I began to wonder if Bettman had some sort of patented force field around the Canuck’s net.
- Lebda, with some acting that makes Paris Hilton look like an Oscar winner, received a delay of game for pushing off the net during a Canuck’s rush….pretty sure that was his best defensive play of the year.
- Before the end of the first Homer scores to make it 2-1. I have to say, you know the season is a crap shoot when Homer is vastly leading in scoring despite Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Filppula being on the roster. Well and since he was slightly coherent in his post period interview, I stand by the fact that this season is just a screwed up episode of the Twilight Zone. The only other possible explanation is Ken Holland has teamed up with that douche Ashton Kutcher and we have all been punked…
- May took exception to a hit on Stuart and had a pretty good fight with Glass….It’s a strange treat having a Wings enforcer in the lineup.
- The third period looked like high school prom night almost everyone was trying to score and most were. This is the kind of game you know Bettman has wet dreams over. Kronwall had a nice goal, Williams had the game winner, and some where in-between Datsyuk found that snake that bit him and kicked it’s….well I guess it doesn’t have one, but he did break his scoring drought. He netted two goals, one beauty in particular. It was classic Datsyuk. He rushes down the boards, dekes to the inside, and scores despite being tripped and falling down on the play. Oh he is back bitches and it is on like donkey kong. It was as though he road in on his white horse and gallantly told us all it would be ok. I’m going to even refrain from my general sarcasm and bitchery to welcome him back.
Overall the Wings persistence and hard work paid off. It was an all around team effort back stopped by a strong Howard. Aside from Howard,Kronwallhad an amazing game. One play in particular stands out. After another less than stellar Wings PP, O’Brien leaves the box, gets the puck and is of course on a breakaway. While I am rocking back and forth in the fetal position, Kronwall is busy backchecking and perfectly lifts O’Brien’s stick. Text book. He made it look easy. Top the game off with a Kronwall goal and he had his best night of the year. Combine that with Datsyuk FINALLY breaking his scoring drought and it was exciting to watch.
I’m not saying the game was devoid of stress, and I’m certainly not saying that copious amounts of tequila are not required to calm your nerves. Oh no, there are still issues. The PP has become as much of a problem as the PK which for the past year and a half has made me consider sacrificing chickens to break the cycle. Yes I am committed like that. They also seem to be struggling with passing (and this may only be rectified with the Gordon Bombay egg passing drill) which has really hindered their play out of their end and the through the neutral zone. There are areas to improve.
But at least the Wing seemed to have broken the seal. They have lost their “away game virginity” if you will. Let’s hope that this win will be the turn around. Cross your fingers, toes, and rub your lucky rabbit’s foot. Pretty please.
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