lordstanley

We also cringed when word was Yzerman was interested in Stamkos - I know I did - but here he is with a 39 goal season.

The Habs have three goalies - Montembault, Dobes and Fowler - and will get rid of one. Dobes is a 24 year old 5th rounder and Fowler is a 21 year old 3rd rounder. Fowler and Dobes both have trade value because both have been allowed to build up a portfolio of NHL starts. 16 games for Fowler this season, 40 games for Dobes this season after Fowler last season. Cossa could have played 20 games this season instead of Talbot, sink or swim. If Yzerman and McLelland suspected he would fail, let's stop pretending and ditch him on someone before the rest of the NHL finds out, if they haven't already.

And since Raymond seems reluctant to shoot during regular play, why was he leading off the shootout?

I was a diehard young Tigers fan in the 1970s and 1980s but I’d say that between 1995-2005 I was bordering on being Tigers-free. I’d check the scores and stuff but knew they were mediocre or best so didn’t spend much time on them. I don’t even have much memory of Chris Shelton’s torrid start in April 2006 because I was following the Wings and Pistons playoff games, plus our daughter was born in May. The Wings’ playoff season came to a crashing end with a 1st round loss to Edmonton but it did lead me back to the Tigers indirectly. During Wings playoff games I was a lurker on a game thread message board that I believe was hosted by the Detroit News and enjoyed the commentary, knee jerk as it was. I think they had one for the Tigers too but sleepier. So I started looked for a Tigers message board thanks to the team’s quick start and found Motownsports.com. Joined in May or June 2006 I believe. It was a revelation to find a message board with multiple Tigers-specific threads, all of which were several steps up from the News’ message board. Starting to read and post on Motownsports.com and getting to virtually know established posters is one of the things I remember most about 2006, especially Thursday afternoon getaway game threads in August and September. I also remember being in San Francisco in early August, the Tigers’ record season peak with a healthy double digit lead, and wearing a Tigers shirt having a few people comment that the Tigers were having a dream season. But back in Vancouver, there is little baseball chatter in real life with few if any visible Tigers fans. So I was punching the air all by myself in a Granville St pizza shop when the Tigers got the final out in a series deciding game at the White Sox in mid-September that made a playoff spot finally seem locked up, if not officially.

Wings’ tragic number is 5. Any combination of Ottawa points and Detroit dropped points adding up to 5 eliminates the Wings. 4 games left for each. So for example, even if the Wings were to win their final four games (ha!) so 0 dropped points, Ottawa going 2-1-1 for 5 points would eliminate the Wings.

I think with Buffalo making the playoffs, and Edmonton having made it to Game 7 of the SCF the past 2 years, the Wings will be the NHL's new punchline, at least for the next year.

Yes, that’s how I saw it too

17 seconds away from winning in regulation. One save away from winning in the 3rd round of the shootout. But lose in Round 5. That should just about do it.

Good grief. Tying goal with 16 seconds to go.

Faulk! Wings lead.

And almost 2-0. Wings already look listless.

Cool! I will come back with 2006 thoughts at some point but just wanted to add how fun it is to look back at "as it happens" game threads and broadcasts. I have shoebox of old cassettes from the 1980s and included in that for about 100 games each for 1983 and 1984 are game recaps I recorded from the radio - a combination of Paul Carey's post-game summaries from the radio broadcast, Kell or Harwell key play highlights, Eli Zaret's next morning Tigers banter with JJ & the Morning Crew (including George Swell and Al Foulline), and JP McCarthy morning interviews with Sparky. I'm in the process of digitizing it and cleaning it up a bit.

Tonight is the first time when I think that a Wings' victory - few as far between as they've been - wouldn't be a satisfactory result. The Wings need help, having to gain 3 points on Ottawa in their last 5 games. So one of the best chances of doing so is Ottawa losing to a Tampa team that is in a 3-way race for 1st place. A Wings' victory tonight over the the Jackets would put them ahead of Columbus and NYI and then the Wings have a chance to get even with Philly at LCA on Thursday, so Ottawa is the concern now. No expectations whatsoever though.

U of M radio home feed of the final 13 seconds. Michigan Wins BB Natty.m4a

Finally pulling away? 11 up, 12 to go.