Product of the Day: Hockey Fights Cancer

Product of the Day

 

Hockey Fights Cancer T-Shirt

 

 

$23.95 USD

 

Available in the NHL Shop

 

Sizes: S - XXL

 

 

 $5.27 USD of each sale will be donated to the NHL’s charitable foundations

Zetterbirthday

Happy Birthday to Z

 

 

Happy Birthday to Z

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to Z

 

 

Happy Birthday, Dear ZetterCaptain

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to Z

Must Have Purchase of the Day: Hockey Rink iPhone Case

Must Have Purchase of the Day

 

Hockey Rink iPhone Case

 

from

 

 

 

Insomniac Arts on Etsy

 

 

 

This is one of my most favorite phone cases that I have ever had and is a must have for hockey lovers.

 

The case ships worldwide (from Nashville) and costs $15.99 USD.

 

Shipping is FREE for USA based customers and $5.00-$6.00 USD for Canadian and International Based Customers. 

 

Color choices are black, clear, and white in the hard case style as well as white or black rubber cases.

 

This case can be purchased here.

 

 

 

 



Hockey Blogette is BACK

Just like the NHL regular season, Hockey Blogette is back and not only back but shifting gears and focus to cover some new things.

 

In addition to the Red Wings/NHL Hockey talk, there will be features on all things women’s hockey as well as featured items for purchase from different hockey merchandisers and suppliers.

 

Stay tuned for all of this and more!

It All Depends on the View

 

There's no bad seat in the Joe. I'm a firm believer of that. Although, the people around sometimes might not be the best... there is always a good view to be seen.

 

 

A few of the views from the season so far:

 

 

 

 

A couple views from seasons past:

 

 

Monday is a punch in the face!

Sometimes everyone has a case of the Mondays. For me, I combat this with... FIGHT VIDEOS.   I know that it doesn't work for everyone but it works for me every time. Even now, I just previewed a couple and instantly am in a better mood. Enjoy and Happy Monday!

Gobble, Gobble, Dangle

With today being Thanksgiving day, here are some Wings things to be thankful for:



"The Ageless Wonder" Nick Lidstrom

Larry Murphy's love of hot dogs

Mickey Redmond-isms

Tim Horton's at the Joe

The endless entertainment of the threesome bromance of Mike Commodore, Brendan Smith, and Cory Emmerton

The entire team, coaching staff, front office, and ownership for being the best in the league

Pavel Datsyuk as a whole

Tomas Holmstrom's back side

That we are able to interact with the legends of years gone by on a regular basis thanks to an organization that never forgets

Ian White's cheekbone

$9 beers (Try watching college hockey. No beer at all)

Henrik Zetterberg's love of Beyonce

Dan Cleary's lack of eyebrows

Darren Helm growing his hair out AND growing a mustache thus causing the fangirl/puck bunny types to leave him alone

That the Wings do not have cheerleaders

Ty Conklin's mustache

That the Red Wings don't go for a gimmicky third jersey

Seven more years of Niklas Kronwall

That the Wings have found places in the organization for many of our favorite newly retired players

That the Wings aren't last in the league

That it's almost December THUS almost Mursak time

Sweden, Canada, Finland, Russia, Czech Republic, Slovenia/Yugoslavia for bringing us some of the best players from outside the United States

That mispronouncing Justin Abdelkader's last name leads to hours of entertainment

That some people don't like "Just for Men" gel (see: Miller, Drew)

Jimmy Howard

That Brett Lebda has settled with a new team... And it isn't ours



Oh yeah... Friends, Family, Health, Happiness, Food, etc. The standard, mushy, Miss America sentimental stuff and what not.


Happy Thanksgiving!

FYI- They can hear you

"The crowd really willed us to a victory in Game 4, We're hoping they can have that same type of impact in Game 6."
-Justin Abdelkader

Believe it or not, the support of the fans does mean something to the players. Why? Because THEY CAN HEAR YOU. Boo them? They hear that. Cheer them? They hear that too. So with game six looming tomorrow I implore everyone that will be at the Joe tomorrow to cheer the guys. No booing. Support the team. Give them that extra push. Stay loud the entire time. Never stop being loud even if the Sharks try to take you out of it.

It's only fear that makes you run

per·se·ver·ance
noun
continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition

ded·i·ca·tion
noun
The quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose

pos·si·ble
adj
able to be

heart
noun
courage


Tonight is one game. One game to stave off elimination and show everyone who Detroit is. Now is when the Wings have to pressure on in the face of adversity. Show the world that they can fight harder, dig down deeper, and deliver when their season is on the line. Losing is not an option tonight. Now is the time to show this league that the Wings will not go out without a fight. Now is the time to show the world just who the Detroit Red Wings are and what they are capable of doing. Now is the time to rally and stand behind our boys. Now is the time to cheer and support them like never before.

Now is the time.

It always seems impossible until it's done.

Three games does not win a series. Three is not the magic number. I fully understand that we're all different types of people who look at this game that is hockey differently. Some people are calling for the Wings to surrender now that their backs are against a wall. That's not what I want. That's not how my team reacts. My team... they fight. Those people can throw in the towel and take the cowards way out but I'm not giving in. And I get the distinct feeling that those men in the dressing room aren't ready to either. Am I happy that we lost? No. Am I pleased about the steep hill we now have to climb? No. Do I have faith in my team and organization? Absolutely. It's not an impossible task. As Jimmy Howard said after the game "Others have done it, Why not us?". They deserved that win last night and did not get it. But that's not to say that they can't get the next one. One game at a time. One win at a time. It can be done regardless of what the pessimistic cynics believe. It's not the time to turn your backs on the team. But if you choose to do, keep walking because obviously you don't belong here. Hockey is not for quitters or the weak of heart.



Contrary to what some believe:
It's not over.

Winners never quit

No day like today.
No time like now.

Let's Go Red Wings.

Way to take the class out of hockey, San Jose.

To act as if the Sharks are unintentionally snowing Jimmy Howard, diving, or embellishing situations would be completely naive. It seems to happen nearly every time we play the San Jose Sharks. Following questions and prodding by the media regarding the snowing of Jimmy Howard, San Jose Sharks Head Coach Todd McLellan had this to say-

I have no time for gimmicks and that type of crap. If our players are doing that [intentionally], they’re going to hear from me first

Yesterday was not the first game in which Jimmy was snowed by Sharks players. In fact, this is not the first year in which this has continuously happened. That leads me to believe one of two things. Either Todd McLellan has absolutely no control over his players or that he is lying. If the Red Wings started behaving as the Sharks are there would be serious consequences. Not only from inside our own organization but from the league. I'm sure you've heard the old riddle "If a goalie falls and there's no one around him... send Tomas Holmstrom to the box". In addition to the pathetic display of the snowing, there has been a rash of diving and embellishing (selling if you will) calls. Diving takes the integrity out of the sport. In my mind, diving is much akin to cheating. "Oh someone is within two feet of me. ANNNNNND fall" It is beyond disgraceful. If the players on this team cannot play the game without resorting to such low class actions, than perhaps they should quit hockey and make the six hour or so drive to Hollywood to work on their acting careers. After practically every call on the Red Wings you hear "He really sold that one to the referees". In the game of hockey, you shouldn't have to sell anything. You either got interfered with or you didn't. You either got tripped or you didn't. The referees should be competent enough to be able to call the games fair or as close to fair as they are possible of doing without these low class moves being performed. With diving and embellishing in this series, there is no way to judge legit calls from successful acting calls. Maintaining the dignity of this sport seems to mean nothing to a franchise that is younger than the average age of the hockey fans that I know. Many Sharks fans have claimed that this is just their team stirring up a rivalry. The Sharks, as a team, don't have to behave objectionably for us to dislike them. It comes naturally in the battles of a war that one does not enjoy the sight of their competition.




And to address the Sharks fans themselves--

Sorry to shatter your hopes and dreams, but there is only one Hockeytown and it is NOT in California.

Hey, Hey, Hey.

How do the teams stack up in the trophy department (franchise and current roster while with that team)?

Sharks have:

1 Presidents' Trophy

6 Pacific Division Championships

1 Art Ross Trophy

1 Hart Memorial Trophy



Not bad. Not bad.

Now... uh... How many trophies do the Wings have?



Wings have:

11 Stanley Cups

6 Conference Championships

6 Presidents’ Trophies

19 Division Championships

4 Lady Byng Trophies

2 Conn Smythe Trophies

4 Selke Awards

6 Norris Trophies

2 Jennings Trophies

1 NHL Plus Minus Award

3 NHL All-Rookie Team Members

And the best defenseman of our generatioooooooon.

Seriously?




HAPPY ROUND TWO EVERYONE!!

The Greater Good... And What Not

I fully understand that I am a homer that has chosen one team above all. This fact has led to me being called entitled and judgemental of other fans. Entitled? I don't think so. Judgemental? Yes, indeed. I don't like fair-weatherness, crazies, or puckslutyness. Acting like you know something when indeed someone else has force-fed you your opinion is just as bad. More than everything, I don't like being associated with those who behave as such. Don't be lemmings. Don't act like a jackhole because someone else told you it's cool. And don't change your destructive ways just because I point out how destructive to the fan base as a whole they are.We have become like oil and water. Even when we are intertwined we are still separate as of late.

Now is the time to band together. Now is the time when we fans will be challenged to stay the course and cheer for our team together. Now is not the time to choose one player on another team over our entire team. Now is not the time to second guess our boys. Now is the time to cheer harder, be better, and do everything in our power to show our boys that we support them. (And not in a puckbunny way, bunnies). The challenge is to always cheer and never boo.

Our boys will face challenges and they will be the ones doing all the work. They will be the ones giving everything of themselves on the ice night in and night out. I challenge you to not take the low road where you spend the entire game insulting our players. Have some dignity and respect. Every win last series was over-shadowed by the immense smack talking by our own fans about our own team. Majority of these fans are the complainers that would complain if they were hung with a new rope. Don't take that road. Don't be that guy. Obviously these players that are consistently trashed have something that keeps them on our roster past the trade deadline and in our line up by some of the greatest hockey minds in the business. So trust that the coaching staff and front office knows more than you because chances are... they actually do. The great Vince Lombardi said "The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual." Each player is a piece in the puzzle that is the Detroit Red Wings. Always remember that these guys live a lifestyle that many could not handle. Remember that at the end of the day, no matter what, these players are human beings that deserve to be treated as such. I do not boo you when you do something that I do not like, Do not boo them.

Take pride in our team. Every single day. Not just on the days when the world is watching. There is no justification to put on a rival team's colors and go to their arena and cheer them in my mind. One team, above all. Lift your head high regardless of a win or a loss. Appreciate that we are able to watch one of the greatest franchises in all professional sports night in and night out. Understand to achieve anything it takes faith, hard work, determination, and dedication. It’s easy to have faith when things are going great and we’re on top of the world. It's when our team is facing adversity that our faith in them must being the strongest. Never allow your fear of what might happen overcome your faith that it won't.

Standing five foot tall, being the bigger person has never been my forte. But I encourage you to act with respect and honor when it comes to our team. Acting as morons will only make the fan base look bad. It's not just about appearances. It's about morale. Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit. Don't quit on our team.

So these are our choices, eh?

Well I believe these are the scenarios
(don't quote me because things change every day)



If Vancouver beats Chicago we will be forced to look at JumBro Joe

We would also have to listen to the entire soundtrack of Jaws for a minimum of two games.



If Los Angeles beats San Jose we get to see douche wear at it's finest

This scenario has us subjected to something we do do do do do do do do don't want to hear.





PREPARE TO GO CROSS-EYED






If Vancouver beats Chicago and LA beats San Jose
OR
If Chicago beats Vancouver and San Jose beats LA...

We will have to hear lots about this bro and his lady

We will also be subjected to the asinine chants that the Preds faithful chant at every game.

Including, but not limited to, the clever gem of

"If you’re crappy and you know it, ice the puck! (clap clap)
If you’re crappy and you know it, ice the puck! (clap clap)
If you’re crappy and you know it, and you really wanna show it, if you’re crappy and you know it, ice the puck! (clap clap)"

Ohhh those Preds fans are just so clever...




Regardless of who we end up facing...
PREPARE TO BE ANNOYED.

This means something. This is important.

With the help of friends on the net, I checked and rechecked to make sure I didn't forget anyone. That being said, here we go with the...

BIG RED WINGS BLOG-ROLL BONANZA!

Etched In Cold
The Winged Wheel
Nightmare on Helm Street
Beards of War
The Production Line
Wings Win, Eh?
On The Wings
Babcock's Death Stare
Winging It In Motown
Motown Wings
Far From The Norm
Able to Yzerman
The Triple Deke
Red Wings Brasil
The Datsyukian Geek
Red Wings Hardware
A Neuie Perspective
Detroit4Lyfe
Snipe Snipe, Dangle Dangle
The Scrappy Octopus
Hockey Blogette
Bingo Bango
Big Red Machine
The Detroit Transplant
Hockeytown Static
Chicks Who Give A Puck
Franzenmuth
The Malik Report (Link to come shortly)
Babcock's Fly Hair
Brendan Smithsonian Institute
Detroit Hockey dot Net
Eight Legged Freaks
Octopus Thrower
Gorilla Crouch
Red Wings Central
RedWingsGuy
Word on a Wing
Dear Red Wings
CSI Kat


And last but CERTAINLY not least, The Official Blog of the Detroit Red Wings
Hockeytown Blog

I guess you wouldn't know he scores hat tricks

After last night's first career hat-trick for Mister Patrick Eaves everyone seems to be loving up on the Hobo. As an avid supporter of the Hobo this makes me absolutely ecstatic. Mister Hobo made the top three stars for both the NHL and Puck Daddy.

And if you're new to the Hobo loving side of things... I guess you wouldn't know he plays Ping Pong.


Congrats Hobo on your first career hat-trick!
(And FYI there are a bunch of people who loved you before it was cool to love you. Those people love you the most-est! *Except for maybe Mama Hobo... or Wifey Hobo... or Baby Hobo... you get the point. We LOVE you bunches.)



And it wouldn't be me if I didn't close with a Jackhole.


The Jackholes of the Day are...

The people that are now saying that Patrick Eaves is "too good" for Detroit now that he scored a hat-trick and will leave.
Just celebrate his accomplishment and cut out your Jackhole jibber jabber, creepers.

A few snaps from RWTCTC

Here are just a couple of favorite pictures that I took at Red Wings Training Camp in Traverse City:

"People let me tell ya' bout my BEST FRIEND"

MULE

Kenny Holland and Mike Babcock look down upon you.

BERT

Ozzie drinking PEPSI?!? On the ice?!? At Training Camp?!?


The ice :)




To take a look at all my pictures from RWTCTC check out my photobucket album

A sight for sore eyes

HALLELUJAH!

There is ice at the Joe and there were Wings on it... TODAY!

Eaves and Zetterberg

Jimmy and Ozzy having a staring contest

Jimmy and his newly painted mask

Zetterberg "trying to check" Lidstrom (kinda looks like he's giving him a little huggle)

Former Wing Manny Legace

Ozzy just maxin' and relaxin' all cool (or menacingly staring at Jimmy)

HELP ME HOMER

The Perfect Human himself Nicklas Lidstrom

Zet-ter-berg

Wings (and some others) stretching

Did he just murder someone? Is that why he looks SOO happy? SMILE Bert!

Zeta, Draps, and Cleary plus Horcoff

Homer and Jimmy

Helmer trying out to be the next great action hero.

All photos credit to the Detroit News and John Greilick