Wings Look to Key In on Second Florida Victory

Detroit (35-16-6) @ Florida (24-25-7)

Quickie because I was out late tonight before the game (Whoops!)

We beat the team that Steve built. Awesome! Now we can really move on past the baggage and continue to step it up as we head closer to the post-season and contend for playoff positioning. The Wings will be working on that tonight against the Florida Panthers.

So for the "Keys" to victory (ohh, so clever, right..?), here's The Geek's Winning Formula!

1.) Carry Momentum - The Red Wings need to carry the passion from last game into tonight's affair and make sure they come out strong early. Last game was one of our best starts overall in a long time, and I'd like to see more strong efforts in the first 20 minutes from here on out.

2.) Work Together - I don't know if it was all the injuries, but it kind of felt sometimes like the Wings were not so much a team as a group of individuals all wanting the same thing. With our guys getting healthy, it's been looking more like players are working together with linemates and synergy is building again. Keep it up, boys!

3.) Discipline...! - I said it before, guys...watch the dumb penalties! We won't always get away with the opposition going 0-fer on the man-up.

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

The Geek's LST!

Lucky Shirt: 7-3-0

No Lucky Shirt: 4-3-1

Status for Tonight: No Lucky Shirt

Wings Meet Stevie Y for First Time as Bolts GM

Detroit (34-16-6) @ Tampa Bay (34-17-6)

It's been coming for a while, and whether most people want to admit it or not, they will feel something when it comes gametime tonight. Detroit takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning this evening under General Manager Steve Yzerman, better known in Hockeytown circles as, "The Captain".

Steve has put together an intriguing team when you look at their numbers. They sit atop their division and are 2nd in the East for points, yet their goal differential is a mind-boggling -1. In comparison, the Wings are sitting 2nd in the West, but have a GD of +24. It truly seems this Bolts team we face tonight is being modeled after our beloved Captain: All heart and determination.

That's what could make this match a tough one. So, with that, let's get to The Geek's Winning Formula!

1.) Prepare to Battle - Detroit is going to need to come out fierce tonight and win those puck battles. Tampa has as many points as the Wings without being a dominant offensive or defensive force, so it's clear that the Lightning have simply been making earnest efforts in key areas and are focussed on coming out hard.

2.) Control Emotion - It's going to be a rough game, so the Red Wings need to be careful of getting to nasty when push comes to shove. Keep the dumb penalties to a minimum and match grit for grit, effort for effort. I'm expecting a game where the refs will have the whistles ready to go at any time tonight.

3.) Be Aware - Once we get control of the puck, our boys need to keep it moving, be it forward, backward, or laterally. Make Tampa chase the puck, and make sure they rarely catch up to it. I feel like the more grinding that takes place in this game, the worse it'll be for us, not them.

Should be an interesting game, hope to hear from you all on Twitter during the broadcast!

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

UPDATE: By the way, lucky shirt is on tonight! Here are the respective records as of tonight:

Lucky Shirt: 6-3-0

No Lucky Shirt: 4-3-1

Bert Beats Bruins with Two Pairs in Two Games

Quick recap while waiting for supper.

The Red Wings gained four valuable points in a pair of victories over the Boston Bruins. My question in the aftermath is this: Where the he'll was this effort hiding?? This is the kind of play we need to finish out the season and prepare for the playoffs! I hope Babs keeps pushing the boys with whatever method he used before the Boston games, because it is working.

Wings Get Homer Back, Face Predators

Detroit (32-15-6) VS Nashville (28-19-7)

2011 Lucky Shirt Tracker

With Lucky Shirt (5-2-0), Without (3-3-1)

Oh yeah, I'm back...

I'm adding the LST (please do not confuse with LSD...) so that not only you, my readers, can keep watch on how much of a difference my shirt makes, but also so I don't forget my records!

Detroit defends the JLA ice against the Predators tonight and are getting back Tomas Holmstrom, who has been injured for weeks. Hopefully his assets will be felt on the struggling Detroit powerplay, and provide more versatility in the Wings's lineup.

I've got the lucky shirt on tonight, though I'll miss most--if not all--of the game due to a previous engagement (damnit...!).

Here's a quick Geek's Winning Formula for you!

1.) Work the PP - With a veteran net-presence like Homer back, I should like to think that the Wings will be seeing a lot more chances while the opposing goalies will be seeing far less of them. work the man-advantage hard, boys, we're letting too many good chances go to waste!

2.) Clamp Down Defensively - I feel almost guilty for being so excited over the score of the Wings-Rangers game! 3-2! Whoo, we didn't need to score a touchdown to win the game for once! We're not playing football, guys...we should be winning more games with scores like this.

3.) Simplify the Strategies - I haven't caught much of the last few Wings games, but it sounds like not much has changed. In other words, we've been going into every game thinking we can make 60 foot passes every time and the enemy is somehow not catching on. It's gotten old, guys. You gotta mix it up! Little dump'n'chase, little carrying in, THEN those stretch passes begin to fool people again! You've got to keep the defense honest to go for high-risk plays, or you'll get burned 9 times out of 10.

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