Good-Bye 2009

It was definitely a great way to end this year. Helm was great, Datsyuk was great, and the rest of the team was quite good. I'm so glad Leino got a goal tonight--he really needed that. Filppula, Stuart, Howard--all did well. Just a nice, nice win.

Now, I don't think I'm the only one who thought this all night long:

Have a great New Year. May we all be blessed with good health, good friends, prosperity, and Red Wing wins!

Not Much New Here--You COULD Move On

--While quite a few things have happened since I last posted, others have done a better job of commenting than I ever could. Right now, it seems as if I look on the Wings as in a holding pattern. As long as they don't lose any more ground, then I think things will be fine.

--So, Filppula (aka: my Baby Boy) is back on the ice. He has looked pretty good out there--and I mean with the way he is playing. As soon as he gets a goal, I think he will be back in good form.

--I really am feeling badly about Leino. It is hard from the comments to figure out just where his head is at. I have the feeling that his remarks are being misunderstood--after all, English IS his second language. I grew up with first- and second-generation Americans and all of them spoke Finn as their first language. They didn't always make themselves clearly understood, either. Also, I would imagine it is difficult for him to adjust to North America--he wasn't exactly a spring chicken (as far as hockey players are concerned) when he came over here. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

--So, Mikael Samuelsson is a bit upset over not being named to Sweden's Olympic team. It does seem to be quite strange--and I don't blame him for saying what he did. For Forsberg to be named and NOT Samuelsson is crazy. When was the last time Forsberg actually played without injuring his little finger while trying to step on the ice?

--While my Oldest has given me six grandchildren, The Youngest only has given me furry ones. And she has seven--two dogs and five cats. (It is a long story.) Of course, we have to give the furry kids Christmas gifts, because we give the human ones gifts. I got these for the dogs:


Of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone, so I added this:



I told The Youngest I need to see pictures of the dogs (each over 60 pounds) destroying the penguins.

Merry Christmas

Once again I have been contemplating trying to hang myself with a strand of spaghetti. What else can be said? However, the famous quote says that whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Well, by the end of the season, Red Wing fans will be the strongest damn people on earth!

I want to wish everyone a very wonderful Christmas. Eat, drink, and be merry! And never forget the REAL Reason for the Season.

Who Would Have Thought...

I watched some of the Buffalo-Toronto game tonight, which Versus was broadcasting. I was surprised that the talking heads actually said that Detroit can't be ruled out of anything, just because of where they are in the standings at this time. Faint praise, but praise nonetheless. And of course, one of the idiots--can't remember which one--said Detroit is in the same position Pittsburgh was last year when Gonchar was injured and "look how well THEY did." Do these people realize just how stupid they sound? Or do they just not care?

Oh, Well...

I only watched about half of that suckfest yesterday--just couldn't make myself watch anymore. Wow. It really hurts to be a Red Wings fan at some times--and that was about the most painful game for me. While I will despise the Penguins eternally, the Blackhawks are coming very close to them in terms of how much I hate them. I want EVERY GAME to be a 20-0 blowout with Kane losing at least three teeth each and every time he faces the Wings. He is as much of a shitass as The Boy is--just isn't promoted as much. Oh, well...

This morning I went to find out how the Rangers did last night and I certainly wish I could have seen THAT game! Anyway, they played the third game in as many days against Alpena. On Friday and Saturday, they won--Saturday's score was 8-1!--but lost yesterday. The loss doesn't matter--I STILL wish I had been at that game. After looking at the box score, it seems as if the goalies got into a bit of fisticuffs in the second period--they both got 5 minute fighting majors and 10 game misconducts and were thrown out of the game. In all, 8 different players got fighting majors/game misconduct penalties in the melee. It must have been fun cleaning up that mess. And I miss all of the fun stuff!

Possible Positives?

Once again, I didn't get to actually WATCH much of yesterday's game. From things I have read, it seems as if the play was inconsistent from the Wings--but what else is new. I guess the positive I take from the game is that they weren't blown out of the water. A one goal game, with the players they have missing, isn't that terrible.

This also made me think about how scared the rest of the teams must be right now. If the Wings can actually stay in games with half of their team injured, just how good will they (possibly) be when everyone returns to health and can play? If it is hard to play them now, they will be impossible to beat later on. This is about the only thing that is keeping me going right now.

I'm actually ill thinking about the game tonight. A very high scoring game, on Chicago's part, isn't out of the question. And the thought of Kane smiling his way to victory just makes me want to kick my cat.

Really Wondering

I watched last night's game, the way I have watched most of them this season, while I was multi-tasking. This seems to be the only way I can get through a game without worrying I might stroke out. However, last night I wasn't worried through most of it. I actually ENJOYED the game--and even after Z went down, I continued to not be worried. It was nice to enjoy a game for a change--and it has been VERY hard to do that for most of this year. And then the reality came to me this morning.

As it is being reported, Z is gone for a minimum of two weeks with a 'slight' shoulder separation. Never having a shoulder separate, I can't imagine that a 'slight' one would be all that much less than a 'complete' one--or whatever the term is. Just having another player go down is surreal. Not having paid that much attention to other teams and their injuries, I don't know how the Wings rank in terms of players being gone at the same time. But, I would think not many teams have come close to having this many of their top players gone at once. It is at the point that I can't even wrap my mind around it. Last night, Mickey Redmond said that anyone who hasn't watched a game in the last couple of months wouldn't even know it is the Wings playing by the names of the players. Hell, I watch almost EVERY GAME and at times I had to look up from what I was doing to make sure the Wings had control of the puck! I'm STILL trying to remember all of the new names.

At this point, I think I just want this season to be over. While the rest of the team has stepped up and is doing well, I just can't handle any more injuries. I want it to stop--NOW.

The Octopus

Over the years I have heard/read how some fans of other teams can't understand why an octopus is the Red Wing mascot. Even after explaining about the eight arms and playoff wins, etc, etc, etc, they still don't 'get it.' (If they were smart, they would be Wing fans, but I digress.) Now we have another reason to celebrate the octopus as a mascot: they are hell of a smart creatures! National Geographic has a story and video explaining how octopi have been observed using coconut shells as shelters, among other things. Go here for the story and video.

So, we will hold our heads up high and be proud of the mascot! (Good grief, I can't believe I said that. I'm losing it. ;) Fascinating stuff, though.)

Monday

Holy hell! I'm still not believing the game last night. There were times when I thought "They have to actually try and LOSE this game tonight!" It has been a long, long time since I felt that way about a game. Of course, the entire game didn't make me feel like that. The end of the second wasn't their best effort, but overall things looked not bad.

So, two more players are down for the count. If things don't change soon, there will be no one left to play. This just defies any explanation. I can't even blame Bettman for what is going on--or can I? I'll be happy to use whatever explanation to blame that little weasel if someone can come up with one for me. Things have to change sooner or later, right?

Saturday

Todd Fricking Bertuzzi.

Friday Night

Red Wings 3-Ducks 2

wow

Todd Bertuzzi scores to tie the game

WOW

Todd Bertuzzi scores in overtime to win the game

WOW

TODD FRICKING BERTUZZI SCORES TWO GOALS TO WIN THE GAME FOR THE WINGS

WOW

WOW

Too Cute For Words

I've tried to not be too cute with any of my posts and I think I have succeeded. Today I will be very, very cute and post very, very cute pictures. And I have to do this before the game tonight--I just might not be feeling too cute afterwards.

Tomorrow night the Rangers will be holding their 2nd annual teddy bear toss and The Husband is taking time off of work so that we can attend. (We weren't able to go last year.) I have two bears to contribute and thought I would post the pics.




I am pretty sure there will be a couple of kids very happy to get these.

Frustration To The Nth Degree

I don't even know what to say about this season/team anymore. It all has been said, discussed endlessly, and there just are no answers. No one seems able--and this includes the coaches, etc--to figure out what the hell has happened. Really now, did losing the players this summer screw things up this badly? With the talent on this team, still, there should not be this big of a struggle. Thankfully, the Christmas season is here now, so I can't obsess about the Wings. But wait till after the new year--LOOK OUT!

LOL

This just made me chuckle.

Great News

Valtteri Filppula had the cast removed from his wrist on Monday and is on schedule to return by the end of the month. Good, good news. Maybe his return will help Leino get it together. I'll be happy to see VF again--I miss my Baby Boy. ;)

And Now What?

You know a team is in trouble when even its FANS start getting injured. I have sustained a lower body injury and exacerbated it by going on a weekend shopping trip. I am officially listed as day-to-day. (I can't believe I actually just wrote that!) Short story long: While cleaning to get ready for Christmas decorating, a book slipped and fell on my foot. The point of the spine hit the top of my foot, which promptly turned a pretty color. Walking on it turned the entire top of the foot, all the way to the toes, a pretty shade of black and blue. I don't think any bones are broke, but it hurts like a bitch. And I can't flex my toes without crying like a little baby. I don't want to have to see the doctor. One positive has come out of this: I actually forget about the suckfest that is the Red Wings every time I look at my foot.

This is definitely turning into the season from hell. I can't watch any of the post-game shows anymore, cause having to listen to "they played very well, only things didn't work out" or "the bounces weren't going our way" or any of the other excuses that are being made on a much too consistent basis. This isn't fun at all. I'm having a hard time explaining things to my non-hockey friends when they ask how the Wings are doing--there just are no words. And I'm really afraid it won't matter too much when the (barely) walking wounded return to the line up. A little too little, a little too late. But I will continue watching to the bitter end. I must be a masochist.

Missing, Missing, Missing

Even though there is news going on with the Wings, I am bowing out in terms of commenting. The season of my Scrinchiness has now begun and things need to be done. My biggest wish has always been to go to sleep on Black Friday and not wake again till 2 January--but I can't convince a doctor to put me under for that long. So, between cleaning, decorating, and a road trip, I will pretty much be MIA for the next few. Hopefully I will be back and not locked up in that purple padded room that was reserved for me many years ago. I can only hope the Wings will not contribute in any way to my total breakdown.

I've Figured It Out

I can't comment too much on how well any of the Wings played because I didn't 'watch' the game. Oh, sure, I was next to the TV and would glance at it periodically, but I'm finding that not concentrating on the screen is best for my blood pressure. And I think that is the solution to winning games--me not watching too closely. I just have no other explanation for the game. But then, we ARE in the Miracle Season--and Big Bert has taken that to heart, cause he got a goal tonight. Two in two games. It IS a Christmas miracle!

I'm just so happy that the team seems to be back to playing the way they can--or that they are going in that direction. One by one, the guys are starting to score and before long, they all will get back to their scoring ways--and then the sky's the limit. Things are looking up--at least till the next game.