Friday, November 28, 2008

Concentrated Juice: 100% Pure Wings-Thanksgiving Weekend

Of Triptophan, Time off, and The Detroit Ice Trotters

Pasha (Datsyuk) flying high on a late shift break away, thwarted only by a Rick Nash desperado diving save,

Henrik Zetterberg with a left “hook” that hit the cross bar (too bad he shoots right…), followed in his next shift by a strong push to the net and a one legged wrap around,

Marian Hossa with two gorgeous goals, including a one timer off the face off,

Even Tyutin’s slapshot over Ozzie’s shoulder from center ice by nullified by Hossa and D,

And to top it all off, on the kill, an empty netter in the last 12 seconds, 6 on 3 against the Wings…

The first shorty of the season, all Draper all Day baby!!!!!!!!!!! (anyone else hearing Mr. Vitale when you read that?)

And after each of these plays all I could hear was that familiar whistling…

Wings looked good. Real good tonight. Great in fact. Honestly, there was nothing to even complain about- not even Ozzie letting in that slapper from center ice. Oh I’m sure he is beating himself up about it, but he had some terrific saves, he looked sharp and rested. Frankly, this game had a lightness and frivolity of – well a touch game in the driveway while the bird cooks and the pie cools.

Sharp passing, clean plays, Nic Lids with the gorgeous steals; Z, D and Filps everywhere in the ice, Hossa making all those gorgeous shots on net and two great goals; Lilja enforcing for Filps, dropping the gloves and Jared Boll (who obviously didn’t realize that Lilja is one Big Bad Bear of a man). This game was just a pleasure to watch.

Looks like it was also a pleasure to play. It was incredibly enjoyable to see the Wings look like they were having fun for once, rather than working so hard, intently, focused or tired. Skating looked sharp and light, everyone had a skip in their step.

I could talk about stats, how the Wings haven’t given up more than 2 in a row yet this season, or how 4 Wings (Hossa, Dats, Z, and Sammy) each wracked up 2 point in this game, or how Ozzie has 9 of 10 wins this season or how even with the bench clearer at the end of the game, the Wings have the lowest penalty minutes and the absolute best Power Play in the league…

But who needs stats when we have 12 seconds left, 6 on 3 pressure with Kris Draper, winning the face off and then shooting shorthanded, for the first empty netter of the season, while the Wings ended the game on the kill, 5 to 3.

AH what a day off and a turkey dinner can do for our boys in red.

Happy Thanksgiving all, time for some more pumpkin pie….See you all Sunday night.


Originally Posted on Friday November 28, 2008 @ 11:00 PM EST at

http://fans.nhl.com/members/JuiceinLA/boards/24659

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