SOME Things Are Looking Up

The Wings lost both pre-season games to Toronto. I recorded both and watched the second one tonight after coming home from seeing the local Junior team play. I don't know why I bothered. I keep trying to tell myself that these games mean nothing, that the Wings are playing their Grand Rapids kids while the other teams have their top guns on the ice, but it doesn't make me feel any better. I like when the Wings win and my day is shot to hell when they lose. The start of the season can't come fast enough for me.

The only thing that saved this weekend was going to the Rangers (our Junior team) games. There are some decent players on the team and they are a lot of fun to watch. I don't know if the two teams have some 'history' between them, but they sure went after each other--there were enough scrums, battles, and fights to keep even Canadians happy. Tonight saw all of the guys on the ice--except for the goalies--beating on each other, with six guys being ejected from the game. (Actually, I think a couple of Icedogs--the 'other' team--were ejected earlier in the game.) The Rangers won both games and are on top of their division. Granted, it is just the start of the season, but they are looking good.

We will be going to watch the Rangers more often this year than last. It gets me out of the house and makes me feel as if I actually have a life. I can miss a couple of Wings games--won't kill me. :)

Watching The Game

Finally, beginning tonight, I will get to watch three games in a row on TV. Much, much nicer than trying to get a feed on the computer, that's for sure. While I'm not a big fan of Charter, they have done at least one thing right here: they listened to the subscribers and have kept the CBC in the channel line-up. I forget--despite the fact that I have to watch a set amount of games on Versus and NBC--how lucky we are here in the Northwoods. Many fans are paying big bucks to get Center Ice and I watch all games for free. (Plus the cost of cable, of course.)

Good grief--can this week go any slower?

Next...

The Sporting News named the Wings as the team of the decade, Babcock as coach of the decade, Holland as NHL executive of the decade, and Lidstrom as player of the decade. Stay tuned to Pittsburgh being touted as the team to watch for the next decade--don't forget The Boy is going to be player of the next. Hell, THN has almost said it already. In the 28 September issue, the comment in their projected standings is this:

"PITTSBURGH PENGUINS--Next step is franchise evolution from Stanley Cup champion to dynasty team."

GAG!!! They win one Cup and are already on the way to dynasty status? And it still is being debated whether the Wings are a dynasty--after all of their success. Sometimes I really hate Canadians.

Back to Back Losses

Both last night and tonight I had internet issues, so I didn't get to see/hear much of either game. Thank goodness. It certainly didn't sound like the Wings were doing many good things on the ice, at all. I keep telling myself "it's only the pre-season" and I half-way believe that. Ten more days will begin to tell the tale.

Buffalo 3, Wings 1

A low scoring--four goals, one an empty net goal--and only six penalty game, it was all Red Wings until ten minutes left in the game. (The first goal of the game didn't come till the second period.) After Buffalo got their first goal--on the power play--it seemed to give them life and carried them to the win. Most of the game was played in the Buffalo end with the Wings dominating--but they failed to score. Datsyuk and Franzen looked good and Lidstrom was solid, as usual. (The first Buffalo goal went in off of Lidstrom's stick, but shit happens.) Abdelkator is making it very difficult to make a case for sending him to Grand Rapids for the season.

Wings 4, Rangers 3

For the first two periods, the Wings played okay, at best. A lot of turn overs and some sloppy play. Going into the third, they were down 2-0 and Filppula scored, followed closely by Lebda. Abdelkator and Leino played well and Filppula had quite a spring to his step tonight. As was so often the way it was last year, the third period was all about the Wings and they finished off the Rangers with two more goals. Two games played, two games won--if only it could continue this way for the entire season. Game three tomorrow night.

Even My Doctor Understands

Last week I saw my internist. I suffer from 'white coat syndrome,' as well as ordinary hypertension, so the doc wasn't happy with my blood pressure that day. He asked if I have been taking my BP at home and I replied, "A couple of weeks ago, I figured it has been long enough since the playoffs, so I started taking it again. Besides, I needed a baseline before the season starts up again." He laughed heartily. Then he promptly prescribed another BP med for me to take. I guess having 'good enough' blood pressure while NOT watching a game isn't what my doctor wants for me. And, hopefully, I won't feel like I'm about to have a stroke during any games this year. But I'm not counting on it.