lordstanley

Morocco put up a decent fight but it’s a France-Argentina final.

Extended highlights for this one will be about a minute long. Wings will need to come up big in next game to stop a mini-slump or more from developing.

Wings trail Carolina after 1. Generated absolutely nothing in the 1st period. Better in the 2nd, but need to be much better on the PP.

So is Ned hurt or just in the doghouse (as he should be)?

I still don't really get Zadina's 3-year contract this summer. I guess not long enough or expensive enough to make him untradeable, but I don't think he had or more recently has done anything to earn it.

Here is Dan Miller’s call of the Sewell play. I should have left it running, they kept gushing for another 30 seconds. https://sndup.net/j3cp/

My Sirius XM radio feed on my phone is a minute behind my tv so after the Sewell play I turned it up for that very reason to see how Dan Miller called it. It was amazing.

13 games in and the Lions have still only lost 2 games by more than 4 points. They now have a +2 points differential on the year, the Vikings are -1.

To call that "wide open" is an understatement.

Caleb Williams wins Heisman. 2nd was Duggan, followed by Stroud, Bennett, Hooker, Young and then Blake Corum in 7th. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35227552/usc-qb-caleb-williams-outraces-field-wins-heisman-trophy

Same old Three Lions. Out due to a bad penalty. Darn, I really thought England was going to do it this year. They had the team.

I remember when the Express visited my hometown for an exhibition game in the late 1970s. The Choo Choo Girls made quite the impression on 12-year old me.

Morocco joins Croatia (and Argentina) in the World Cup semifinals. Canada was in the Group of Death without even knowing it.

Argentina win on penalties. Unlike the Dutch, Argentina really went for it the second half of extra time. Would have been a shame if they had lost. A Brazil-Argentina semi would have been mouth-watering.

Stupid challenge by Argentina gives up a free kick on edge of box in 9th minute of injury time …and the Dutch score on a pass and shoot. Extra time. Imagine if both South Americans get eliminated today after both just minutes away from advancing.

No match so far for the Panthers. 4/2 late 2nd.

I couldn’t care less about commercialization. Outfield walls used to be one giant billboard a century ago. Radio broadcasts on YouTube from the 1930s show how MLB announcers of the era were pitching a different product at every at bat. I just hate Bally’s crawl and then the beep beep cartoon cars moving up and down the endboards as I’m trying to follow the puck. It’s cheap, I feel like I’m watching poker on ESPN on a Tuesday afternoon. Canadian broadcasters aren’t doing that. TNT may have digital ads, but its screen is cleaner for hockey than Bally’s and the add-ons it does use, such as names of players on the ice, does have utility for the game I’m watching.

I think we've slowly raised our expectations for them. As much as they still frustrate at times, putting it into perspective this has been a very strong start to year, almost 1/3 of the way in: - Record of 6-2-2 in past 10 - Road record on the year of 6-3-2 - 12th overall in points, but just 3 points behind 5th - Tied with Tampa in points, but more points than last year's three other conference finalists Colorado, NY Rangers and Edmonton -Of the summer darlings as far as who would be most improved, the Wings are 8 points up on Buffalo and 10 points up on Ottawa - Currently in an Eastern Conference playoff position - Have done so without contributions from Bertuzzi or Vrana, few players seem to be producing at unsustainable rate except maybe Husso (I think Husso is that good, but a bit nervous about overworking risk from the 18gp-8gp split with Ned) and Kubalik (good pickup, but don't expect him to finish season as a PPG player).

Good thread on the digital board ads. The ads, especially the animated ones, plus the Bally scrawl, definitely impair my viewing experience. If I had a choice of removing the but having the Wings wear yellow jerseys, even that would be better.

Win of the year even though 3rd period was TB 27-7 SOG domination. Wings have refused to allow lengthy slumps develop this season. 4-2 final.

Thank you to Tampa for keeping the goalie out down only a goal with a few minutes to go. Because Wings quickly convert an ENG. Still not over though, 3-1 with 3 minutes to go.

When will I learn not to open my big mouth. Lightning score 13 seconds after I posted.

Wings 6 minutes away. Lightning are possessing the puck around 90% of the time past several minutes but not particularly dangerous …yet.

Wings holding in their own through the 1st period. If anything, they should leading. 0-0 after 1.