The Detroit Red Wings, who just so happen to be the reigning Central Division Champions for the past eight seasons, might find it very tough to nine-peat this season.
The Red Wings are still considered by many to be the top team in the Central Division in 2009-10. With Pavel Datsyuk playing some of the smartest hockey in the league, Henrik Zetterberg putting pucks in the net more often than not and Nicklas Lidstrom stonewalling forwards more than his goaltender, the Red Wings will put yet another powerful product on the ice. But in order to retain these all-stars, the Red Wings have had to see their depth take a nosedive.
Detroit Red Wings
5 August 2009
18 June 2009
The NHL season hasn’t even been over for a week and I already miss it. I have a fever and the only cure is more blaring goal horns. This season left a much better taste in my mouth than the previous one because not only did the Blues make it back to the postseason, their biggest rival didn’t win the postseason. The Red Wings had everything going their way. There hadn’t been a home team that had lost a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals in 38 years. The road team hasn’t won a championship in a Game 7 in any professional sport since the Pirates did it back in 1979. So Detroit took that fact and dominated the first period. Pittsburgh outshot the Wings 10-6 in the first, but it didn’t feel that way watching it. But then Detroit let them off the hook.
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13 June 2009
"It was a really tough decision for me to make," forward Marian Hossa stated last July. "When I compared the two teams, I felt like I would have a little better of a chance to win the Cup in Detroit."
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6 April 2009
The Blues win over Detroit on Thursday would've been inspiring no matter how it happened. But the fact that David Backes scored four goals (or five depending on who you believe, since Backes wouldn't claim it) was amazing. Every time the Red Wings got close, Backes would respond. If St. Louis meets up with Detroit in the first round, this game could be enough to give them a real confidence boost after being dominated by the Wings during most of this season. Getting a point in Dallas on Saturday will help the Blues' chances as well, but they're back to needing some help. They are right with the Ducks and Predators when it comes to points, but they are still behind in the wins column, which serves as the first tie-breaker. Hopefully the Red Wings will remain in contention for the Presidents Trophy long enough that they won't be resting players when they host Nashville on Thursday.
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2 April 2009
I just a few notes on the Blues before previewing the baseball season a bit. First, their effort last night in Chicago was pathetic. If the game had gone exactly the same way, but was played in mid-December, I'd let it slide. But with six games left (now five) and the club is right in the playoff hunt in April for the first time since before the lockout, that's all that this team had? A 3-0 loss? I'm aware that Jeff Woywitka scored with two seconds left, but that's a shutout everywhere but on the stat sheet. The goal didn't change the way the team should look at that game and it certainly didn't change the standings. It should have been 6-0 or 7-0 with the way that the Blues played. That's what they deserved.
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3 March 2009
Tonight's game between the Blues and the Red Wings could change a franchise. If St. Louis loses, they'll remain at least three points out of the playoffs and it will likely be more with the high amount of games between Western Conference teams scheduled for tonight. They'll probably deal Keith Tkachuk for draft picks or prospects with his contract expiring at the end of the year. They might even cut a couple of other deals. If they win, they could buy for a postseason run which began early last month. The Blues' have the second best record in the NHL over their last 20 games to only the Devils. New Jersey's well into the playoffs at this point as they're likely to win their division and just got back one of the best goalies of all-time in Martin Brodeur. That team is looking to buy more even after picking up Niclas Havelid, a decent defenseman. That team doesn't need anymore to contend for the cup. The Blues, however, need a lot more to contend for the cup.
Continue reading "The Blues with the Trade Deadline looming"
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19 February 2009
I haven't mentioned much about the Cardinals lately and now that the players have reported to spring training, I think it's time that I examined them a bit.
1. Chris Carpenter has looked good so far this spring, but due to his history (surgery before he actually played for us, the nerve thing at the end of 2004, Tommy John surgery in 2007, and now the shoulder injury in 2008 relating to the Tommy John surgery) I don't think I'm going to be convinced that he can go a full season without getting hurt. Even if he's fine in 2009, makes 33 starts while pitching 200+ innings, I think I'll still be skeptical heading into 2010. He's one of the best pitchers in the majors when he's on the field, but he's extremely unreliable.
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