Detroit (39-17-2) VS Nashville (33-18-6)
Now that the Red Wings have set the record, it's time to see how long we can extend it. Detroit will face Nashville this evening, in a game where a win means their home winning streak will be increased to 22 games!
Henrik Zetterberg, who had been pegged to miss tonight's game, is now a game-time decision.
Bit of a quick one today, but that doesn't mean Detroit can take their foot off the gas, we need to keep piling up the points!! I hope to catch most of the game after work.
Let's Go Red Wings!!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Detroit Begins Defense of Streak, Host Predators
Posted by Brad Butland at 2:31 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Wings Find Favor with Hockey Gods, Defeat Dallas 3-1
The Red Wings have claimed a piece of NHL history all for their own.
Detroit successfully defended JLA ice against the Dallas Stars and won their 21st consecutive home game--the most of any NHL team all-time--by a score of 3-1. Brad Stuart scored the game-winning goal and Joey MacDonald came ever so close to earning a shutout in the victory.
Sadly, I was not able to watch the game, but my heart was with the Wings and I knew that Detroit had the talent to go out and win this game.
They did, and now they have the longest home winning streak ever in the NHL.
Now it's time to move on and continue trying to improve the regular season record to compete for playoff positioning.
It's been a great run, boys. If it keeps going, that's great. If it doesn't, the record is still all ours.
Let's Go Red Wings!!!
Posted by Brad Butland at 7:29 PM 0 comments
Will History be Kind or Cruel? Wings Attempt Record VS Stars
Detroit (38-17-2) VS Dallas (28-24-3)
No, this is not for the Cup, but this could still be a pretty special night.
Detroit, with 20 consecutive home wins under it's belt, a mark that ties the all-time NHL record, will try to take sole possession of the record when they play host this evening to the Dallas Stars. Even though the Wings are trying not to think about the milestone, the match tonight is no less important as the last, with the playoff race for positioning is still as tight as it ever was.
For Mike Babcock and the Red Wings, it's another game and another chance for 2 valuable points. To some, it may seem odd to not use the chance at breaking an NHL record as motivation, but Detroit didn't tie the record by going into each game and thinking, 'Hey, this gets us one game closer to tying the record!'. The boys have simply kept the mentality of 'We do what we do.', nothing more, nothing less.
When it's all said and done tonight, may the history books show that the hockey gods had at least one more smile to shine down on this amazing run.
Let's Go Red Wings!!
Posted by Brad Butland at 3:17 PM 0 comments
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Wings Go For 20 VS Philly: Game Preview
Detroit (37-17-2) VS Philadelphia (31-17-7)
For fans who enjoy milestones, it's nail-chewing time.
The Red Wings will defend home ice tonight against the Flyers for a chance to tie the all-time consecutive home wins record with their 20th straight home victory. The task will certainly have its challenges, but I believe that, if Detroit plays their game, if they go out and simply do what they do, then Hockeytown will share in another piece of NHL history.
As if tying the record weren't enough, though, one must take into consideration the depth into which the season has gone. A win tonight would add another huge 2 points to the Wings' total in a Western Conference that has been neck-and-neck for a while. You mustn't forget that Detroit has played 56 games coming into tonight's match, tied for the most games played by any Western team currently in a playoff spot so far this season. With division and conference rivals having games in hand, we need to keep piling up the W's until they pull even in GP.
For tonight's match, Joey MacDonald will likely get another start, as this game is far too important to trust Ty Conklin with. Jo-Mac has been pretty solid over his last 3 starts, so he's got my vote to back up Jimmah when he returns, and hopefully can hold his ground this evening against the Flyers.
One thing that needs to change soon, however, is the low-scoring. The Wings have been cutting these games way too fine, the last game against Anaheim was a great example. We can't keep going to OT and the shootout for wins, because sooner or later, that puck-luck is gonna run out. Early pressure, lots of shots on net, and hopefully--with a goal or two early on--we can watch Detroit build a lead that they can cushion as the game progresses. It's been my experience as a Wings fan that this team is not good at defending a lead, so I prefer the boys simply keep playing like they don't have one. Keep the gas pedal down all night on Philly and run them ragged.
We'll see what happens though, and we'll see how the history books remember this game.
Let's Go Red Wings!!
Posted by Brad Butland at 3:17 PM 1 comments