Howard

Skating in the Music City

April 11, 2012

Strap yourselves in, the Stanley Cup Playoffs start tonight! The Detroit Red Wings will take on the Predators in Nashville in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. This is the third time the two teams have met, with Detroit winning both series in six games (2004, 2008). Many hockey 'experts' are predicting a series win by the Predators, making the Red Wings an underdog, something that they aren't used to being and something they might not be.

Wings Win Despite Inconsistent Effort

April 4, 2012

Kyle Andrew Busch

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I thought this would be a recap that highlighted what the heck is wrong with the Detroit Red Wings. It still will be, but more importantly, they still control their own fate after a 3-2 shootout win in St. Louis tonight. Johan Franzen showed up for his last two shifts and scored twice and Todd Bertuzzi won it in the shootout. David Perron and Andy McDonald scored for the Blues.

The Wings now sit 4th in the West with 101 points, one up on Nashville. Noth teams have two games left.

The game was a chess match until the third period, where things got weird. Jimmy Howard and Brian Elliott were both spectacular in net, but in the third, both were solved twice.

Ryan Reaves...

No One Shows Up in Cali

March 14, 2012

Kyle Andrew Busch

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This is what happens when a team doesn't have any compete level. The Detroit Red Wings got demolished 5-2 by the Los Angeles Kings.

No, a 5-2 loss including an empty net goal doesn't seem too bad, but if you assumed that you are dead wrong. Let's put it this way; Tom Hanks was in attendance, and he probably thought the Red Wings were the worst team in the NHL.

Let's forget about the fact that your top forward and defenceman are out in Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom. These are NHL players. They should be pushing for that win with everything they have. Only a few guys did tonight; Gustav Nyquist, Darren Helm and Brendan Smith. The rest of them were poopo...

Holy Helm!

March 10, 2012

Kyle Andrew Busch

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The Detroit Red Wings fired 16 shots last night, the lowest total of the season. They were a bit lackluster and the Los Angeles Kings dominated most of the game. The end result? 4-3 Detroit on two last second goals by Valtteri Filppula and Darren Helm.

LA opened the scoring when Jeff Carter slid a rebound through Joey MacDonald. Henrik Zetterberg, who has been day to day with an injury, scored twice, one on a nice one timer from Filppula and the other on a drop pass from Flip. Justin Williams scored from an awful angle to make the score 2-2 after two periods.

The Kings got a goal from Dwight King with uner six minutes left and it looked like doomsday for Detroit. Against a goa...

Hawks Win, Lot's of Call-Ups

March 5, 2012

Kyle Andrew Busch

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The Detroit Red Wings lost to their Central Division rival Chicago Blackhawks yesterday 2-1 in a game that showed that the Red Wings had no jump and could not solve the Hawks' defence.

Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane scored for the Blackhawks and Niklas Kronwall responded for Detroit with his 14th of the year.

The shots were only 24-18 in favour of Detroit, but Ray Emery was solid for Chicago to seal the win. Jimmy Howard started the game but Joey MacDonald was surprisingly in the net to start the second in a 1-1 game. Howard and Jakub Kindl both left the game with lower body injuries. Howard was still on the bench but will sit out next game in Philadelphia.

Sharp sco...

Depleted Wings Beat Lowly Jackets

February 28, 2012

Kyle Andrew Busch

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The Detroit Red Wings started slow and ended strong in a 5-2 victory over the last place Columbus Blue Jackets tonight.

Johan Franzen got his first point in five games on a first period goal, which was quickly followed by a tally by Rick Nash, who by the way still plays for the Jackets.

The Red Wings played a sloppy second period and the score remained 1-1. Although they were missing Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and Kyle Quincey (Ericsson doesn't count), the players that replaced them were very good in this game, most notably Brendan Smith. More on that in a bit.

The Blue Jackets scored a shorthanded breakaway goal due to the fact that Jiri Hudler sucked tonight a...

Streak Over; Why It's a Good Thing

February 24, 2012

Kyle Andrew Busch

4 Comments

The Vancouver Canucks came into the Joe Louis Arena and snapped the Detroit Red Wings' 23 game home winning streak with a 4-3 shootout win. The Red Wings were outshot 45-36 and the only reason the game was that close was Jimmy Howard's play in net.

Darren Helm opened the scoring with a flutterball shot that beat Roberto Luongo, and Detroit escaped the first period with a 1-0 lead after being peppered in shots, 17-5. Helm ended the game with a goal and two assists.

The Sedin twins hooked up in the second to tie the score at one, with Daniel poking in a rebound.

The Red Wings took the lead in the third when newly acquired defenceman Kyle Quincey (who wore number 27...

MacDonald Rewarded, What Does Future Hold?

February 18, 2012

Kyle Andrew Busch

3 Comments

The Detroit Red Wings took part in an outdoor practice today at Clark Park. Everyone was there except Pavel Datsyuk, who had a sore throat, and Jimmy Howard, who instead practiced at Joe Louis Arena. Howard was set to go tomorrow against the San Jose Sharks, but Mike Babcock has other plans.

Instead, Joey MacDonald will start. Babcock's reasoning was simple; he's hot and the Wings are going to let him play.

To be frank, there's no reason to rush Howard back into games. MacDonald has stolen the show, and if it gives Howard an extra two days to heal, perfect. He is scheduled to start in Sunday's nationally televised game against the Blackhawks.

MacDon...

Sharks Wary of Streak

February 18, 2012

Kyle Andrew Busch

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The San Jose Sharks have knocked the Detroit Red Wings out of the playoffs in the Western Conference Semifinals two years in a row. Their regular season success has been dominant against Detroit, and when the Sharks visit Joe Louis Arena tomorrow, they know what's at stake.

The Red Wings have not lost at home for 22 consecutive games. Their record at JLA is an amazing 25-2-1.

Expect the Sharks to proceed with caution as Detroit has been unstoppable at home. Mike Babcock has even said he doesn't think the Wings are playing their best hockey, just managing to win games.

The Red Wings will get a huge boost with the return of goaltender Jimmy Howard from a brok...

MacDonald to Start in Phoenix

February 6, 2012

Kyle Andrew Busch

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When Jimmy Howard broke his index finger of his blocker hand, Detroit fans panicked as if it was signs of the apocalypse. It might not be that bad.

With a healthy lead in the Western Conference standings, a few losses won't drop them out of playoff contention. If the Wings are sitting anywhere in the top four and get home ice advantage it's a plus, especially because of their mind boggling 17 game home winning streak at the Joe Louis Arena.

What should be concerning is the play in front of the goaltenders when someone other than Howard is in net. For example, Ty Conklin is playing like a bag of flaming dog feces. No one can help that and I didn't see th...