It’s scary how deep Detroit is, even with all of the roster shuffling and defections. Never like playing those guys, and that’s probably the best compliment of all.

If Detroit ends up as the 8 seed, and the Sharks the 1 seed…I will cry.

Red Wings

On a sidenote, please stop buying Little Caesar’s pizza. You’d be indirectly helping the Red Wings!

no one shoot me … but I’m sorta hoping they win tonight … only cause the Hawks fans pissed me off and I want to see them bitch some more when they lose … :)

I was rooting for the Wings last night, which felt odd but I’m not fond of Chicago these days (7-2 trubbing). I’ve never liked Hossa and that’s about as far as it goes as far as my current disdain for the Hawks. I watched some of the the DET/CHI game and as depleted as the RW are; they were still finding scoring chances and were aggressive to the puckl. If the RW get back their key ingredients in time for the playoffs, this added playing time for the younger crew will only help them. I was impressed with Helm’s skating and puck handling abilities last night; at one point I thought it was Datsyuk bringing the puck into the zone; this guy has some kick to his game. I guess I never noticed him much before if you consider players like Zetterberg and Franzen kind of distract my focus. Playoffs are still quite a ways off and I feel the Sharks have to beat EVERYONE or they’ll be disappointed.

No doubt Detroit will make the playoffs. Let’s not forget that there is that Olympic break when the team will rest up and get healthy – well, at least their 3rd-4th liners, and I can see Detroit going on a tear to finish the season and get themselves to seed no. 4. They know how to turn it on when needed.

On the other hand, I don’t think they’re deep enough to make a long playoffs run, especially with upper half of their roster going on long Olympics run. But who the hell knows – that’s what everyone was saying last year too.

Either way we look at it, there is no easy road to SCF in the West, unlike in the East where there are only three good teams.

The East is just as competitive as the West.
Everyone expected the Bruins to make it to the SCF last year, instead they bowed out in 7 to the Hurricanes; who barely registered on anyone’s radar. Those same Canes beat the Devils, even down 3-1 in the series.
And just before the trade deadline, the Pens were mired close to the bottom of the standings, before going on a 13 game winning streak to finish in the 4th spot. No sane man in Vegas would’ve put good odds on the Pens winning the Cup in the shape they were in.

Sure the Devils have been a perennial powerhouse. And just recently, the Pens and Caps. But give some respect. The Bruins have a healthy Savard and are getting production from that second line centered by Bergeron. They’ll pick it up next month— no doubt.
Buffalo has gotten great goaltending from Miller. They’re sure to be in the thick of things come April. They have 3 lines that are capable of putting the puck in the net.
The Rangers are mired in a scoring slump, but they certainly have the roster capable of pulling off a run. Not to mention, they have one of the best goaltenders in the league who is capable of winning games by himself.

Detroit’s lost a lot of players to injury. But on the bright side, there’s a lot of youngsters who will fill up the top PP units, defensive pairings, and the top 6 forward positions and are going to be that more experienced come the playoffs when scoring from all 4 lines is a requisite to a deep playoff run.