Welcome back, Red Wings hockey

What a night.

Such an awesome feeling watching my team come into the city I live in and absolutely dominate the hell out of the Boston Bruins.

The night started at local bar near the Garden.  The Red Wings hosted a pre-game party on the road and it was without a doubt a success.  At least 90 people showed up throughout the evening and the top floor of the bar was filled with nothing but Red Wings' fans.  Hopefully, the Wings will do this again on more road trips.

I had the chance to go to the game with work.  At 6:30p ET, I knocked on the door of the Red Wings' broadcast booth and had to get Larry Murphy so we could head down to the suite where we broadcast the Bruins' pre/int/post game shows.  He was doing a guest segment for us.  Our producer spent some time producing the Wings' pre/post game shows in the early 2000s when the were based out of Seattle with Mickey York and Angie Arlotti.  He had worked with Murph when he first started out and also worked with John Keating too.

When I got Murph, Ken Daniels was not in the room.  So I unfortunately did not get a chance to meet him.  There were also no hot dogs in the booth.  Murphy was a lot bigger than I expected.  He was extremely nice.  We had to go from the 9th floor to the 5th floor.  He had a huge pile of notes that his eyes were buried in.  There was some small talk, yada yada yada, and all that, but ultimately, I didn't want to bother him too much while he prepared for the game.  He crushed his segment for NESN and I took him back to the elevator and back up to the 9th floor.  Thanks him again and that was that. 

I should mention that I road in the elevator twice with Khan and once with Cam Neely.

The actual game was awesome.  By now you've read recaps over at other blogs, so I won't do a straight up recap.  I spent the game in the suite watching the game with our producer, Barry Pederson, and Mike Milbury.  We picked out specific plays and goals to breakdown during intermission and to use for replays.  It was a really cool experience.  Pederson was a nice guy.  Milbury didn't really talk to anyone but Pederson, Tappen (the show's host), and the producer.  At one point during a Datsyuk shift and yelled over to our producer, "He's amazing!" and had awe inspiring smile on his face. 

It was pretty somber in the suite once the second period hit.  I heard many comments from Bruins' fans like "They're just so good at passing the puck through people and keeping control," and I heard comments like, "They never fight.  This sucks."  There were more comments about how good the Wings were than how much "they sucked" though.  Late in the third a lot of Bruins fans hit the exits and the red took over.  A few "Let's Go Red Wings" chants.  Not sure if it was heard on TV or not.  I received an email from a former producer from where I interned, he said, "If the B's and Wings played in a 7 game series...the Wings would win in 3."  That pretty much summed up the night.  I'm just glad the Wings of old showed up and dismantled the Bruins and put them back in their place.  If the Wings go on a roll here and do end up winning the Cup in June.  I think we can look back on this game as a turning pointing in the season.  I can't wait to go into work today with my Shirtuzzi, '08 Cup hat, and maybe my Yzerman sweater. 

Let's Go Red Wings

I want it all...and I want it now

I watched both these games into the wee hours of the morning on the DVR.  On Friday night, I was in Providence, RI covering an AHL game between the P-Bruins and the Connecticut Whale.  The Whale won 3-1.  Former Griffins Kris Newbury (2 assists) and Jeremy Williams (goal) had solid nights.  I had a chance to speak with Williams after the game.  Nice guy.  You'll be able to watch the highlights in my hockey show.  I'll post the link here when it's completed.  On Saturday night, I was out shooting another package for a different show....but enough with my personal life that no one here cares about...let's talk some Red Wings.

I hate the Ducks.  It's always great to beat them and even better to shut them out.  Jimmah was absolutely fantastic.   I can't say enough about the defense either.  Petrella over at TPL nailed it. 

There’s a lot of talk about how poorly the defense is playing, and I respectfully disagree. This will be familiar if you read the Spaceballs pre-game, so apologies for that, but there’s a difference between playing weak defense and playing efficient defense. No one should expect to have their goaltender face fewer than twenty shots in any given game. If that happens — and it does — it’s a combination of exceptional circumstances, and probably says more about the horrid offense of the opposition than the stellar defense of your squad. Allowing 41 shots sounds like a lot, but Howard saw each and every one of them clearly, and was able to play them well. When there was a rebound or a scrum, his defense was there to mop up. I’d happily take 40 unobstructed low-percentage shots over 15 quality opportunities every night of the week.

And while we're on the topic of defense...can we talk about the pairings?  Uncle Mike's decision to shuffle the pairings at the beginning of the year has been pure genius.  Obviously,  Lidstrom and Stuart are your top pairing, but there really isn't a 2nd or 3rd pairing.  It's pair 2a and 2b.  Is there a better 2nd/3rd D pair in the league than Kronwall/Salei?  Or Rafalski/Ericsson?  Big Rig has been better than anyone could have predicted before the season started.  I don't know what it was, but something must have just clicked for him while he was out with his back injury.  I love how you can make the case that each pairing has skill type defenseman and a physical type defenseman -- Nick (skill)/Stuart (physcial),  Kronner (skill)/Salei (physical), and Rafalski (skill)/Ericsson (physical).  These combos have just flat out worked so far.  The solid play from the defense is making Jimmah look better out there and Jimmah's excellent play is, likewise, doing the same for the D.  They're a solid, in-sync unit right now.

I hated the overtime goal in last night against the Kings.  I keep wondering if maybe that goal doesn't happen if Franzen doesn't stuttered before beginning to back check.  Maybe he gets back in time to help of the D and picks up the late man.  I thought at times the Wings were running around in their own zone, not connecting with clean passes, and it just looked like the last game of a western road trip and the second game in two nights.  With that said though, they still played well enough to get a win.   That's what is great about this team this year.  Even when they're not on top of their game they can still pull out a W. 

Speaking of Ws...can this team get to 63?  Last night, Ken Daniels mentioned that the Wings were 30-5-4 in their last 39 regular season games.  That record now stands at 30-5-5 in their last 40.  That is an insane pace.  If you take the Wings record this season (17-4-3) they're on pace to go 58-14-10 for 126 points.  If everyone stays relatively healthy, there is no question that the Wings have enough depth and talent on this team to make a run at it.   At the end of the day though, the team will not be judged on regular season record or success, but whether they're raising Lord Stanley's Cup on the last day of the post season.

I want it all though.  I want the records.  I want the trophies (Lidstrom for Hart).  I want the Cup.


Let's Go Red Wings.

Don't call it a comeback! Red Wings 5, Flames 4 (OT)

Thank you, Yahoo!  I didn't see much of the game because I was at my internship from 4-11pm, but I was able to catch parts of the game on the Yahoo! stream during commercials and halftime of logging the Patriots' game.  And man, was I glad I didn't miss this one. 

• The only early goal I saw was the Franzen goal.  What a nice pass from Rafalski.  It's great to have him back and contributing on the offensive end.  The Mule only scores at home it seems so not surprised he cashed in last night.
• At halftime of the Pats/Colts when I tuned in it was 3-1 Flames.  I was rather disgusted.  I had no idea how they scored but no one scored the the rest of the way in the second while I was watching.
• After the Pats game ended and I finished transcribing Peyton Manning's post game press conference, I tuned into the game just after Datsyuk scored and the teams were taking the center ice face off. 
• What was up with the Tanguay goal?  Rafalski just got tangled up and tripped over himself and Tanguay was free to go directly to the net.  A very strange sequence.  I thought that was the dagger.
• I was wrong though.  Hank made his way into the slot and actually score on his back handed shot.  I was a little surprised.  It seems like he takes the backhand shot all the time and it always misses the net or is saved.  I'll take it though.
• I bet I wasn't the only one that thought it was over when Rafalski lost the puck at the line with around 15 seconds left.  But when time is running out just get the puck on the stick of Datsyuk.  He dangled his way through about three Flames and created a two-on-one with Hank and, well, Hank was not going to miss that wide open of a net.  Nice pass by Pav.  Nice play all around.  You can never count this team out.
• Nick Lidstrom...what can you say?  He really can do no wrong.  Even when you thought maybe he should have shot that puck and he made it a little harder on himself to score...it didn't matter.  He scored anyway.  Pretty goal to cap off the great comeback.  

BRENDAN SMITH

The Griffins have lost three straight games and Smith was held off the score sheet in every game.  Actually...pretty much all of the Griffs were held of the score sheet.  They lost 3-0 to the Lake Erie Monsters, 5-0 to the Houston Aeros, and then 3-1 to the Monsters again on Saturday.  Smith is still tied for third in team scoring with 12 points (5G, 7A) in 18 games. 

Highlights of the Griffins weekend games:


Let's Go Red Wings.
Let's Go Griffins.

Depth is a beautiful thing

Last night's game was something, eh?

It really made me think about this season.  The Wings have had a tremendous start to the year.  They're now 12-3-1 for 26 points.  That's good for first place in the the Central Division and the Western Conference.  And the Wings have done it in less games than any other team in the top nine of the league standings.  It's a great record and start to the season, but it's not the games they've won that I've been impressed with...it's how they've done it.

This team is clicking from top to bottom.  In net, Jimmy Howard has come out of the gates playing well.  He was questioned going into the season on whether he could sustain his level of play from the previous year.  There is zero doubt that he has answered his critics.  The sophomore slump has been non-existent.  Has he been perfect every game?  Of course not.  No goalie is.  But he's kept the Wings in every game and made some big saves along the way.  He's a top ten goaltender in this league and I dare someone to argue otherwise.

And what about the Wings' stars?  No slow starts here.  Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, and Nicklas Lidstrom all decided to show up right away.  Datsyuk and Zetterberg lead the team with 18 points each and Lidstrom is not far behind with 17.  The Perfect Human is off to his best start in the points column since the 97-98 season (and we all know how that year ended).  I don't care if he's 40-years-old either.  The fact that Lidstrom has never won a Hart trophy, let alone be nominated for one, is a joke.  He's been the best, most consistent player the last 15 years.  Lidstrom for Hart 2011. 

You can't win a Stanley Cup without depth.  Look at the Wings from 2008 or the Blackhawks from last season.  Those teams had the deepest rosters in hockey.  This summer Chicago had to jettison half their team because of the salary cap and now they're struggling.  Having the ability to roll four lines is the biggest weapon the Red Wings have in their arsenal.  Detroit's leading goal scorer is Danny Cleary.  He's been on the third line all season.  Todd Bertuzzi has moved around from the second to third line and he's been one of the best players for the Red Wings.  He leads the team in plus/minus with a +13.  Even Petrella thinks he's playing well and that's saying something.

You could ever make the case that Detroit doesn't even have a third line, they have two second lines.  That being said, with the way Babcock has been juggling the lines, if he ever split up Datsyuk and Zetterberg, you could argue that the Wings have two or three first lines.  Depth is a beautiful thing.  As we said on this week's edition of TP:60, the Wings currently have an embarrassment of riches.  I would much rather sit here every day and debate whether Babcock should sit Miller or Eaves or give Modano a day off or what to do when Draper returns, than watch Brad May, Kris Newbury, and Jason Williams play on the fourth line.

Don't forget the defense either.  The new pairings have been great so far.  Brad Stuart has looked rock solid next to Lidstrom.  The addition of Salei and his pairing with Kronwall has clicked.  The Team America version of Rafalski we are seeing paired with Ericsson is the best second or third defensive pairing in the league.  How about Big Rig?  He has played very well since coming back from back spasms.  If he keeps it up, this could be the best defensive in the league one through seven.

And then we have moments like we saw in last night's game. Miller shoots the puck on net, Halak makes the save and tries to harmlessly slap the puck into the corner out of mid-air, but instead he knocks the puck into his own net.  The Wings are catching some breaks this year.  Health, depth, and talent are only 3/4ths of the Stanley Cup equation.  A team needs to catch a few breaks a long the way.  They need good luck on their side.  Last year it seemed like all the breaks went against the Wings.  Whether it was the Brad May intent to blow the whistle no goal or the controversial Dallas shoot out goal.  Those calls always seemed to go against Detroit.  This year, we've now seen Danny Cleary knock the puck into the net...along with his entire body and the goal stood.  Throw in Halak's mishap and the Wings seem to have karma on their side in 2010/2011.

Don't forget the confidence either.  How many times did the Wings blow a one or two goal lead last year?  This season, when the Wings get a lead late in a game you get the feeling that they're going to lock it down and win.  Even when they're down a goal entering the third or down two goals early, you just get the feeling they're still in the game.   Hell, last night they were outplayed by the Blues for the majority of the game and they found a way to absolutely turn it on late in the game and win.  As Kenny Holland says, you usually get a good idea of where your team is going to finish by American Thanksgiving.  We're almost there and I'd say this Red Wings team has the makings of another special season.

Let's Go Red Wings.

New Lines? No Problem: Wings 6, Oilers 2

SUH

"I'm expecting the Wings to give Edmonton a good, old fashioned ass-kicking tonight.  Somewhere along the lines of 8-2 works for me.  It just seems right considering the line-juggling, the few days rest, and a successful road trip last week."

Totally nailed this game in my preview.  What?  I was two goals short?  So what.  The Red Wings had this game in their hands from start to finish.  There may have been some time in the 3rd period where Detroit coasted, but the game was never in doubt. 

• Three lines...three goals in the first period.  I'd say the new lines are working out pretty well.  Happy didn't get a goal, but his pass from Gretzky's Office to Filp was a thing of beauty.  Pretty sure Filp knocked that sucker out of mid-air before it touched the ice.  Homer added goal number two on a nice play by the Flying Circus (the only line still together).  Cleary wrapped up the period with goal three off a nice pass from Bertuzzi.  Three goals from three different lines.
• Hudler still didn't score, but I thought he played a solid game.  He obviously plays better when he's on a more offensive driven line with Filp and Mule than when he plays with Helm/Eaves/Miller in a 4th line grinding type role.
• Abby played on the 4th line.  He's versatile.  He can play on a line with more skilled guys like Modano and Cleary or he can play a grinder role with the 4th liners.  I'd really like to see what he can do offensively if given more time with the skill guys, but it's just so hard to move someone else down.  Not everyone on this team can move up and down the line-up like Abby can.  The future is big and bright for him though.  He'll get his shot and he better run with it.
• I honestly completely forget about Kris Draper.  Babcock is already having to make tough choices of who to sit on a nightly basis...can't imagine it will get much easier when Drapes returns.
• I second Petrella's comments on Eberle...and yes, 6-2 does count as a whomping.
• The defensive pairings continue to work.  I was worried about Rafalski/Ericsson, but I think they've played well together and they're growing on me.  I've been completely sold on Stuart/Lidstrom and Kronner/Salei is a nice mix of offensive and defensive minded defensemen.
• Someone please comment and tell me if I'm right or wrong...but I swear Jimmah started this game with his Doc Ock mask and switched to his new car mask.
• Danny Cleary is a on a four game goal streak.  Lidstrom and Datsyuk extended their point streaks to 10 games.  The Wings' top nine forwards all had at least a point.
• The Avs come to town tomorrow night.  Who does Babcock sit?

A win is a win is win: Red Wings 3, Coyotes 2 (OT)

Apologies for posting this late and that it's so short.  Due to my last cross-country practice ever this morning, my internship all day today, and WEBN sports tonight, I only had a few minutes to write , but I wanted to make sure I at least posted something. 

Those darn pesky Coyotes.  Should we have expected anything less than an overtime game?  Phoenix always plays the Wings tough.  Detroit has now won seven of their last nine games.  Sounds good to me.  Let's put this one in the win column, shoot some bullet points, and enjoy the next five games at home.

• Rafalski made an impact early in his return.  His shot appeared to be wide on purpose and Cleary was in the right spot at the right time.  Have to imagine that is a play the team practices. 
• I really liked the fact that Babcock juggled the line last night.  It liked seeing Frazen with Modano and Abby.  I liked Cleary with Hank and Pavel.  Can't say I loved Homer with Helm and Eaves.   I was luke warm on Hudler, Bert, and Filp.  The possibilities are endless (well not endless, but there are a lot. Someone should do the math for me).
• I noticed Salei a lot more on the offensive end tonight.
• There was some rumors floating around here in Boston that the B's and Coyotes were talking about a trade.  Keith Yandle's name came up (probably just because he's from the Boston area).  I don't know why Phoenix would trade him.  He's a guy that I wouldn't mind seeing in a Red Wings uniform one day.
• Jimmah.
• Hudler...seriously...I've always liked you as a Red Wing, but this whole not scoring a goal thing is really getting to me.  I know you were gone and have to readjust to the NHL game and rink size, but seriously, just bury one already, would you?
• Stuart and Lidstrom together...I like this pairing.
• Ed Jovanoski -- can't stand him. 
• Hank and Pavel were both a minus-1. 

Put it on the board! Red Wings 3, Oilers 1

It's Abby's world and we are just living in it.

Another solid road win in western Canada.
Another solid effort from top to bottom.
Another kick ass performance from the third line.

Let's get to the bullet points...

• James Jimmah Tiberius Howard III. Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, children of all ages, the Detroit Red Wings have themselves a goaltender.  Now you must be thinking, 'Jeff, we know Jimmy is goodm' But loyal readers of BSI, enjoy what we are seeing from Jimmah right now. He is continuing to blossom into an elite NHL goalie. If his play continues, we need the TPL store to start printing some Jimmah for President Heisman Vezina Hart t-shirts.
• The third line is clicking. Modano looks like he's 34 out there. Cleary is back to his not trying to be too fancy and skilled and just grinding and mucking it up in the corners and going to the net self.  Abby has been shot out of a cannon and is showing no signs of slowing down. I hope 2010-11 is known as The Evolution of Abby: the story of a young Michigander (Michiganian?  Michiganite?) who began in Muskegon, went on to East Lansing, Grand Rapids, and finally Detroit, started as a 4th line grinder, and evolved into a solid, tough, physical young scorer in the NHL.
• The four minute power play in the first period was damn good...except they didn't score.  I loved the chances.  I loved the puck movement.  Now just put the puck in the back of the net.
• Nikoali Hasekbulin made a unreal save on Hank.
• Clean hit on Pavel...but I was glad to see Big Rig step up and defend his teammate.  
• Franzen in the fourth line with Helm and Eaves for a few shifts.  Not sure if this was just because the lines got juggled because of PKs or PPs, or Babcock wanted Hudler to play with more offensively skilled guys, or the Mule was demoted for poor play.  Regardless, it was interesting to see.  Every now and then I like to see guys like Helm and Eaves play with more skilled guys.  I'm curious what they could do.  Hustle (Helm/Eaves) + Skill (Franzen/Datsyuk) = Goals? 

Let's Go Red Wings.

Hockeytown Loggers

The Lumberjack Line (and Brendan Smith)

Valtteri Filppula: 2G, 3A, 5 points
Johan Franzen: 4G, 1A, 5 points
Todd Bertuzzi: 2G, 6A, 8 points

Best line in hockey so far?  The Lumberjack Line was back in action last night and picked up right where they left off.  The Mule, the Sasquatch, and the flashy Finn racked up four points against the Flames (2G, 2A).  In his first game back from his concussion, Franzen banked the puck off Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff's head for, according to Kenny Daniels, his 17th straight game with a point dating back to last year's playoffs.  Bertuzzi scored a on a two-on-one that saw him roof the puck nicely top shelf.  These three have found a great chemistry together so far.  Fippula continues to improve to the next level,  Franzen works his way into traffic like no other, and Bertuzzi is using his size to create space for his line mates.  All together their logging the load for the Red Wings.

Other notes from last night's 4-2 win over Calgary:

• Jimmy freakn' Howard.  One word: Legit.
• The Flying Circus played arguably their best game of the season.  Hank notched his first goal, Datsyuk dangled as usual.
• Nice to see Lidstrom find the back of the net.  Homer wasn't right on top of the crease but his presence in the slot and partial screen impacted Kiprusoff on the goal.  Stick tap to #96.
• C'mon Huds score a goal.
• I love the fourth line.  Not sure what Babs will do when Abby is 100% and ready to go.  
• Once again a note from Kenny Daniels, not noticing Janik is a good thing.  Also, Murph...it's JAN-IK...not JAHN-IK.
• Orange hat guy's seat has been turned from red to orange for the rest of the season.  Just another reason why the Red Wings' organ-i-zation is the classiest in all of sports.  Not only do they respect and take care of their players and employees like no other, but their fans as well. 
• Speaking of class, last night was Breast Cancer Awareness night at the Joe.  Make sure to check out Tom Leyden's story from Channel 7.

Post Game Post-its: Wings 2, PHX 1 (OT)

(Paul Connors / AP)

First Period

• Both teams played hard - Looked to me like a solid game both ways early on.  The Coyotes were out shooting the Wings quite a bit in the first, but the game felt even.  I'm not surprised the Coyotes were playing us tough.  There was probably some lingering revenge factor left over from the playoffs last year, plus, it was their home opener and they were excited to play well for their 10 fans.
• Jimmy - Is there any doubt that Jimmy Howard is a legit NHL goaltender?  He just looked so solid out there.  He really has come a long way.  I was really impressed with his play.  
• PP still horrible - Goodness was the PP bad in the first period.  I never understood with all the talent on this team how it could be so hard to score with the man advantage.  The Wings set up nicely in the Phoenix zone, but there was too much passing on the perimeter and not enough shots.  When the team did shoot, they usually missed the net.
• Late goal...brutal - Killer goal to end the period.  Not good. 

Second Period

• Datsyuk/Zetterberg/Eaves? I'll take it - I mentioned in the preview that I wanted to see Datsyuk play with Helm and Eaves, well Eaves and Zetterberg will have to do.  Those three had a good shift together.  A great forecheck led to Datsyuk's third goal of the season. 
• Need more shoot - The Wings were badly out shot in the first period.  They dominated the second though and even up the shot total.  I'm curious though what Detroit's shot totals would be if they counted all the shots that missed the net.  I might keep track of that one game.  I always feel like we miss the net a ton.

Third Period

• Did I mention the PP sucks? - A four minute power play and you only get two shots?! Another power play with five minutes left in the game and you fail to capitalize?  At this point in the game you just knew we were headed to overtime and and probably a shootout (which we'd probably lose).  Can someone get Brett Hull or Brendan Shanahan out of retirement, sign them to the league minimum, and only play them on the power play.  Their only job is to line-up in the slot for a one timer.  Those two were always money.
• Bertuzzi - Call me crazy, but Bertuzzi played a real solid game.  At times I thought he was the best player on the ice.  He was good on the forecheck, the backcheck, and in front of the net.  He had some nice passes and played a physical game.  No spin-o-ramas either.  I hope he keeps it up.  

Overtime

• Shut up Jovo - Seriously, shut up.  You tripped him and you know it.
• About time! - Look at that! Kronwall got a shot from the point on net during a power play and he scored!  Man, 1 for 8 is awful, but the Wings got the all important two points.  Nashville lost in OT, so the Wings are tied for first in the Central with seven points. 

Brendan Smith

He gets his own post coming up tomorrow.  A big night for the young defenseman. 

Let's Go Red Wings.

Post Game Post-its: Blackhawks 4, Red "Griffin" Wings 2

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

I wrote down some notes on Post-its that I wanted to write about...thus begins the first ever edition of Post Game Post-its.

First Period

• Tatar w/ Filp + Bert - In my game preview I wrote in the 'What to Watch for' category that Jordan Owens would be starting on the top line along Filppula and Bertuzzi.  Well, it turned out that Tomas Tatar got the nod instead.  I can't say I disagree with this decision.  Tatar has a bright future on this team.  
• Kopecky = basketball shorts - Anyone else notice the stupid way that Kopecky cuts the inside legs of his pants?  It looks like he's skating around with basketball shorts on.  This annoyed me.
• OsGOOD(?) - Ozzie played well tonight.  In fact, he looked a little bit like that goaltender we had back in 2008.  He made some big saves throughout the game.  If he can play again this preseason the way he did tonight, I think he deserves to start some games.
• Ericssucks - 1st goal - Man, things just seem to be going downhill for Big E.  He ended up a -2 on the night and I can't say he did much well out there.  Maybe it's because he's struggled lately so I'm watching his play more closely, but at this point, I would honestly rather see Kindl in there as the 6th man.  

Second Period

• Tatar to Bert to Smith - Real nice play entering the zone by these three.  Tatar passed to Bertuzzi who found a late Smith trailing the play. 
• 4v2 --> 3v1 --> No chance - Hawks had a 4-on-2 that turned into a 3-on-1 before Duncan Keith scored on a pass from Fernando Pisani.  This goal is on the defense.
• Emmerton PK (not the best shot) - I thought Cory Emmerton had a solid game.  His highlight came on the penalty kill where he took the puck into the Hawks' zone, weaved between two defenders, and had a nice scoring chance.  He didn't get the best shot off, but it was a very nice play.
• Filp goal! - Valterri Filppula had a pretty goal.  This was Val's game tonight.  He was the best player on the ice for the Wings...and he knew it.  Maybe it was just me, but I felt like he was playing with the kind of confidence out there that we haven't seen before.  I think he's ready for a breakout season.  It's time for Filp to shine.

Third Period

• Pyett to Owens (can't score) - Logan Pyett had a very nice pass to Owens down near the net.  Owens went from his backhand to his forehand, but couldn't finish.  It was a nice play.
• Kindl + Smith PK - I noticed a lot of Jakub Kindl and Brendan Smith playing together in the third.  They had a really nice shift together on the penalty kill early in the period.  Every time I watched them together on the ice, I couldn't help but think "this could be the pairing of the future."  
• Bert on D 3rd goal - Bert covering Jack Skille when he scored the Hawks' third goal.  Not the ideal match-up.  With that said, I thought Bert played a decent game overall.  Didn't see any spin-o-ramas from him.
• Miller....nice shot - He's fighting for a spot on this team and I can't say I noticed him or heard his name much out there tonight.  He did score a goal though and that counts for something.  A nice shot from the top of the circle.  I'm still Team Miller.  Sorry Ritola.
• Owens/Emmerton/Mursak - these three played well together and forced the Hawks into a delay of game penalty.  
• Smith played correctly on Hossa goal - It was a 2-on-1 and Smith took away the pass.  It then came down to Hossa vs. Ozzie, and, well, Hossa won.
• No McCollum - I don't know if it was announced that Thomas McCollum would play in the third or not.  Maybe I just assumed he would?  Ozzie played the whole game though.  It wasn't until about 4 minutes left in the game that I even thought, "wasn't McCollum supposed to play?"

Brendan Smith

Smith had 23:28 minutes of ice time, which included 4:31 on the power play and 2:17 on the penalty kill.  He finished the night a +1 and had 1 shot (though he had a few more shots that ended up blocked, deflected, or he just missed the net).  He registered his first point of the preseason when he assisted on Filppula's goal.  Overall, I thought he looked much better tonight than he did last night.  First game jitters were gone, but he's still got some improvements to make.  I still think he'll spend the year in Grand Rapids, but there's no way he doesn't make this team in 2011-2012.

Let's Go Red Wings