Pav comes back in an awesome way

In case you haven't noticed, I don't really get around to posting when The Red Wings lose. In fact, I stay as far away from the site and hockey news in general as well. My reasoning for this is this: my sanity depends on the success of The Red Wings and if they happen to lose, I'm sent into a deep, deep depression. This depression increases when hockey material of any kind enters into my life and this is why I do not post when The Wings have any kind of "stumble."

Now to the game. If The Red Wings had managed to lose this one, I don't think that I could have handled it. Two games in a row in which we were shut out had me on the brink of "rock bottom." I was worried about Jimmy and I was worried about the team as a whole. Then, we won. Now I'm feelin' great.

Out of the gate, we totally blew. We had something like two shots on goal when they had eleven or so part way into the first. Then things changed. We rocked them in the second half of the first and then to begin the second, Pav decided to try. Just a little bit. 

Some really great passing and some nice down and dirty goals.  Forwards played good D and Franzen even played pretty well in net for a little while.  Non-stars stepped up and that made the difference in this one.

Howey was a brick wall.  He made some REALLY wild saves during the game.  All over the place.   Gave up less than three goals.  Gave his team a chance to win.  Can't ask for much more.  I'm jazzed about that.

Here are the full game highlights:



The bad news for this game is this:  Fil left the game with "a lower body injury" and didn't return.  Babcock said that he caught "a little bump on his knee" and that they'd be checking him out tomorrow.  I'll update you on that one.  We need that guy.

On a final note, we might be able to expect Homer back on Wednesday (which would be sweet if Fil isn't ready to play) and we're moving ever closer to the return of Modano and Stuey.  Gettin' healthier!  Till next time -- GO WINGS!!!

Red Wings vs. Senators -- February 2, 2011 -- DET: 7 Ottawa: 5 -- FINAL



So.  Johan sored five goals against The Sens in a single game--the first time a Wings player scored five goals in a single game since Sergei Fedorov did it against The Caps in 1996.  It was a very sweet spectacle.  The bad news was that the game was actually very close.  If Johan hadn't have put in his five goal effort, we probably would have lost miserably.  We let in five goals.  We have a team that can score.  Big time.  That's why we win.  But we need to control our goals against or we are going to drop a good number of games that we could potentially win.

Now, I'm a bigger Howey supporter than most people I hear speaking about our goalie situation.  However, I'll admit that he has been shaky for a good amount of this season (he's had a lot of great moments too which people seem to forget).  That seems especially true within the last few weeks.  One has to remember that Danny Cleary and Pav have not been in the lineup to help him out in the back end.  That is surely a contributing factor in this slump situation.  Hopefully with the return of Dan (and his confidence), Howey will get some well deserved support.  Pav and Homer are on the verge of coming back and (Pasha especially) will also have a huge impact on our D.  Then, of course, we get Stuey back who is a necessity on our blue line and sometimes plays third backup goalie.  After that, Modano.  Good presence in our own zone and on D.  Finally, Ozzie who will help out our goaltending situation immensely. 

When we get completely (or even partially) healthy, I think we're going to see a drop in goals against.  I doubt we'll pick up an extra goaltender before the trade deadline.  Just a feeling.  So, then.  We'll wait until we're reasonably healthy and see if GAA goes down.  Hopefully so.

Anyway, a few days ago Johan scored five goals which was awesome.  Also, Drapes and Nick Jr. score 13 seconds apart which was quite awesome as well.  Let's watch as much as we can from that game:

First, here are the full game highlights:

And now, here's what you all want to see.  Johan's five goals:



Very cool. Now, here are the two goals in 13 seconds:



I dig that last one.  Draper is definitely contributing in the offensive realm much more than he usually does while still maintaining the normal aspects of his game.  I'm happy for him.  Nice to see him get some goals and have some fun.

Pav and Homer are aiming for this Monday as a possible return date.  Hope that works out.  Need them both in a major way (obviously).  We shall have to see what kind of impact the return of some of our best offensive players will have on our GAA.  Can't be negative.  I dig Howie and I think he's not playing shittily.  I just think he needs some more support.  He'll get that with the returning players and, eventually, Stuey who will help him wildly.  Till next time, GO WINGS!!!

Dan, not Pav

So.  Tomorrow.  Dan -- Yes.  Pav -- No.  Hmm...that's exactly the opposite of what I was expecting.  Whatever.  One back now is better than none back now. 

Apparently Dan still has a good deal of pain (or "soreness") in his foot.  Hope he's careful not to take any shots off of that ankle. 

I guess I'm glad that Pav is taking things slowly and allowing himself to fully heal before coming back.  We need him in a major way but when we get him back, we need him in for the long haul.

So here are the deets:

"Danny Cleary will return to the Red Wings' lineup Wednesday in Ottawa but Pavel Datsyuk won't. Datsyuk is pushing back his return from a fractured right hand to Friday.

'Still can't shoot 100 percent,' said Datsyuk, who hasn't played since Dec. 22. 'It bothers me a little bit. (I'm) just not ready.'

The Wings are host to Columbus Friday night.

'I hope the two days will help me,' Datsyuk said. 'I will do what I can and shoot for the next game.'

Cleary fractured his right ankle Dec. 26 in Minnesota. He was having one of his best starts (16 goals), and he is anxious to return.

'I'm excited to get back,' Cleary said. 'It's been five weeks and the ankle is getting better every day.'

The Red Wings recalled Jan Mursak from Grand Rapids, who'll replace Datsyuk in the lineup against the Senators."
-From The Detroit News

Time for Jan to step up again -- at least for one more game.  Let's all hope that Dan gets right back to those scoring ways which he displayed during the first half of his season.

**Secret Tidbit!**

An extra bit of goodness which I'd forgotten to mention is this: Stuey is back to skating with the team again!  He is wearing a big, dorkwad college-hockey mask so as to keep from offsetting his chin but he is practicing and that counts for something.  In his first full practice since his jaw was broken by an idiotic shoulder, Bert smashed him in the back and nearly killed him.  Amazingly, Stuey survived (contrary to what usually happens when Bert smashes someone in the back) and, while attending every practice, still has a couple of weeks to go (or so I'm told).

**End Secret Tidbit!**

I've got a feeling that we'll have to wait a little longer than one game for Pav to be game-ready.  Hopefully he'll come back with super-heightened grip strength.  GO WINGS!!!