Wings Dance with the Devils

Detroit (29-13-6) VS New Jersey (16-29-3)

With my stage production nearing, my time is getting more limited. One week till showtime, baby!

The Wings play New Jersey tonight for 2 valuable points, which would help us pull closer to the Canucks who have been running away from the West lately. I know it's NJ, but it's no reason to take the game lightly, points are becoming too important as teams are hitting their stride and catching, or in Vancouver's case, passing the Wings.

The Geek's Winning Formula:

1.) Synergy - Yeah, I know, guys are out hurt, doesn't matter. Work better with what you've got instead of waiting for the regulars to come back.

2.) Discipline - We're playing way too sloppy lately. Be aware and don't get cute with your plays when simple tactics can turn into offense.

3.) Urgency - Start fighting for the puck. You can't score if you don't have the puck!

Sorry for the brevity. Enjoy the game, Wingnuts! Let's Go Red Wings!!

Detroit Discusses Deal with Nabokov, Visit Blues

I'm not sure how I feel about this, but let's get it out of the way.

Detroit is apparently in talks with the agent for former Sharks netminder Evgeni Nabokov. Some sources say the deal is as good as done, but the fact remains that Nabokov, -if- signed, will still have to clear waivers. This is far from a sure thing, as I'm sure many teams would love to scoop him up simply so that the Wings do not.

The Wings also have a game against the Blues tonight, with Jimmah back in goal! I'm glad to see he's already back, as I think we've seen as much of J-mac this year to last a long time.

The Geek's Winning Formula for tonight's game is:

1.) Early Risers - Simple, boys: When the first puck drops, start playing! Stop sleeping through the 1st period of every game!!

2.) Stop Being Cute - Enough with the chincy passing, smart and simple will win the game!

3.) Watch Your Ass...ignments! - Stop leaving guys unchecked in front of the net, too many good chances being offered up to opposing players!

Enjoy the game, Wingnuts! Let's Go Red Wings!!

Wings Visit Cindy-less Pens, Crybaby Still Bawling

Detroit (28-11-6) @ Pittsburgh (28-14-4)

My God, alright. I need to say this now before anything else, because it is driving me absolutely batshit: If Sidney Crosby skips the ASG after bitching that he's not getting enough special treatment, there had damn well better be a suspension waiting for him. Plain and simple, Lidstrom and Datsyuk were made examples of last time by having the audacity to want to heal their injuries instead of play in a pointless match and potentially worsen their injuries. They took 1-game bans for it. If Sid the Bitch doesn't get the same punishment and gets a free pass from the ASG, I will be screaming bloody murder for days on end.

So what's it gonna be, NHL? If Sid throws a tantrum and holds his breath on the All-Star Game, are you going to promote the idea that you really are going for all-around parity and suspend him a game? Or are you going to prove to us what we already believe: that the NHL cares more about specific teams and players than others, and to hell with you if you don't see the logic in it?

And where in the HELL does he get off "endorsing" Lidstrom's naming for ASG captaincy? You're 2 decades too young to be pulling that stunt, son. Come back when you've played 20 years and maybe still successful. Until then, keep that ugly-ass mouth of yours shut about my Red Wings.

Can you guess that I'm glad that we're playing the Penguins tonight?

Here's The Geek's Winning Formula:

1.) Play the Full Game - Last 2 games we came out and gave up an early 2-0 lead against in both contests. Hard to win games doing that. As was evidenced in the outcome of both games, it doesn't always work out in your favor.

2.) Focus More Defensively - Guys, remember, it's still J-Mac in net! McCollum goes in if we have to pull Joey. Let's try and keep the opposing chances to a minimum, please!!

3.) Control with Simplicity - Way too many cutesy plays being made by the Wings, and recently they haven't been working well. Until they do, drive the net, put pucks on the goalie and look for dirty rebounds. Take a page from Drew Miller's book a few days ago, he's giving you all a great eample of how you should be looking for scores.

[Insert BJ joke here]

Wouldn't it figure that after waiting 4 days, the Red Wings are playing on the evening that I'm going out? Ah well...can't watch 'em all.

The Wings battle the BlueJackets tonight, Detroit has already taken the first 2 games of the series, and could use the 2 points tonight after a disappointing game in Colorado.

Here's the Geek's Winning Formula for tonight's affair:

1.) Start tightening the D - Very simple, you can't give up 4 goals in the 1st and expect to win a game, the Avs showed us that, and the BJ's will remind us of that if we let them.

2.) Shrug it off - One bad game doesn't mean anything. Two in a row might cause some concern. Start playing your game right away, Jimmah.

3.) Urgency - Please, boys, play like you care about the game. Fight for puck control and win some board battles, you -are- a puck possession team, are you not?

Thus far, my record with the lucky shirt is 3-1-0, my record without (which is the case tonight) is 0-1-0. Need to see the Wings win one for themselves, with skill and not luck.

Enjoy the game, Wingnuts! Let's Go Red Wings!!

Down With the Canucks! Wings Battle for Top Spot

Feel like ass today. No, not -an- ass. I'll be off and on for this one, but I have the lucky shirt, which is now 2-0-0 this year, tonight can make it a streak.

Big thing that I'm concerned about for the Wings? Play full periods of hockey! That late period goal we gave up against Calgary pissed me off royally. We allow those kinds of goals way too often, and it was a big factor in us chasing the Flames all through that game.

Don't stop playing at 19:30 of the period. Play thorough hockey and we'll take two points from a surging club.

Enjoy the game, Wingnuts! Let's Go Red Wings!!

Corralling Calgary: Detroit Seeks Sweep of Season Series

Detroit (25-10-5) @ Calgary (18-20-3)

May not be following this one too closely, but the lucky shirt is on so I'm not too concerned. 2011 record is 1-0-0 with the shirt, 0-1-0 without, so I made sure it was put through the wash and ready for gametime.

The Red Wings can, as mentioned earlier, sweep Calgary tonight, but to think that this'll be easy would be beyond foolish. A couple of things to tighten up on for this game from previous matches in tonight's Geek's Winning Formula:

1.) Learn When to Draw Well - The Wings are losing key faceoffs, and it's been hurting them for days now. It's not that they've been atrocious at the dot in general, they've actually been holding their own quite well. It's the draws they -need- to win that they are -not- winning, and it's turning into goals, penalties, you name it!

2.) Communicate - Way too many bad decisions being made on the ice by guys not paying attention and being aware of where everyone is positioned. Cut it out, boys. The other team knows how to play hockey, you don't need to give them any handouts.

3.) Confidence - This stems from the Communication part, but the Red Wings need to make the effort to know where guys are so they can make those tough plays, like our bread-and-butter stretch pass, with higher completion percentages. That gets you in a rhythm, -that- gives you a little swagger to throw the opponent off balance.

Hoping to find out my lucky shirt is still undefeated in 2011, want to get a little streak going with it.

Enjoy the game, Wingnuts! Let's Go Red Wings!!

Red Wings can Start New Year Right VS Flyers

Detroit (24-9-5) VS Philadelphia (23-10-5)

2011 has begun, and the Wings rang in the new year on a sour note, dropping their last game of 2010 it OT to the New York Islanders. They begin anew as they defend the JLA ice against the Flyers, who are only 2 points shy of Detroit's own record coming into tonight's matchup.

Some key notes:

- Detroit needs to win more clutch faceoffs. This was the killer in the NYI game: 3 goals off of blown draws in the defensive zone. 3 faceoffs that, had the Wings won them, would've prevented 3 goals.

- When the Wings -do- lose the draw, they need to get to their assignments much quicker, especially in the D-zone. One of the few things I can remember former coach Mike Milbury saying that made sense was this: if you're going to be successful at the faceoff circle, you have to play it like you're going to lose it. The worst thing that happens then is you do lose the faceoff, but it's better to be prepared for the lost draw than to leave yourself open when it's too late.

- We need to keep the depth scoring going. I was -pumped- to see Tatar net his 1st goal, and it's more performances like that while guys like Dats and Cleary get better.

Enjoy the game, Wingnuts! Let's Go Red Wings!!