Ahira's Hangar

Do I really have to bring the Lions into it, to explain the Michigander love for the Wings?

(We would love them even if the Lions were not a national laughing stock, though. )

I don't usually follow football, but even I couldn't avoid hearing about the Lions' season of futility.

CBC News had a report about how the economic downturn was affecting ticket sales for NHL games; they mentioned how even a traditionally strong venue like Joe Louis Arena was feeling the pinch, and that the Wings have been offering things like $9 seats to keep the fans coming. Wondering if you've been able to take advantage of such offers, duchess.

Today, of course, every television in the state of Michigan was turned to the Winter Classic, and we got to watch our beloved Wings beat the Chicago team 6-4 in a sort of wild game, with high winds but no snow.

It has been really good this season to see the improvements in the Chicago team, and to see that pay off in increased interest and attendence for that franchise. If the NHL loses interest the interest of an Original Six city with all of the history of that team, how could they ever hope to expand to be a success in "unnatural" places like Arizona and Florida and California? It is good for hockey to have a strong fan base in places like Chicago - good for the league and a sport as a whole!

Chicago tried to make a game of it - helped by a lot of bonehaeded penalties by the Wings in the first period. But the more experienced Wings were just to much for them today. In a year or so that might change, as Chicago has a lot of solid young talent.

Someone gave me two tickets to a Wings game in February for a Christmas gift. The tickets are beautiful - they have a picture of Nicky Kronwall putting a bone bruising body check on a hapless Penguin in the Cup finals. I am just hoping I will not be radioactive at that point in time, so I can go to the game.

Got to watch the Wings win against the Wild in a shootout last night on TV. Datsyuk (who got the winning shoot out goal) has been playing very well lately.

Today we started mysteriously getting channels we do not normally get, including the NHL channel. So I got to wacth highlights of Buffalo winning their game last night, too.

(We think the extra channels are some sort of promotion, and that will vanish once again in about a week. That happens sometimes with Directv).

The Wings are in a big slump right now - they have lost something like five games in a row.

However, everyone is delighted by the Zetterberg signing. He was willing to space his money out over twelve years, which gives the WIngs a nice big chunk of unexpected money under the salary cap.

We have three big name free agents whose contracts are up this year - Zetterberg, Franzen, and Hossa. No one thought they could sign more than two of them under the salary cap, and we all thought Marion Hossa would be gone, since he is the new kid on the block.

Because Hank Zetterberg was willing to space out his money over such a long time period, all of a sudden there is a good chance we can keep all three players.

So the League is searching for a rescuer for the Coyotes? Or so the rumors say - and all of the people they have approached have turned them down. Why the heck was that team ever put in Arizona to begin with??????????

My Sabres did next to nothing at the trade deadline, except move Kotalik and bring in a back-up goalie and center.
They did sign Tim Connelly, who is a fan favorite, but has had some really bad injury luck - he had a concussion that held him out for more than a year, then he had some sort of upper body injury last year - he's a good center, when he's healthy.
Our big problem now is injuries - Miller is out with a high ankle sprain, which is very problematic for a goalie and of course our leading scorer Thomas Vanek is out with a fractured jaw after taking a slapshot to the face last month.
we're now fighting for 8th place and a playoff spot....not looking very promising - Lalime in net is inconsistent at best and we can't seem to find the back of the net with a puck.
Maybe starting golf early (again) this year.

Injuries can be a bane, Earthy.

Playoff tickets went on sale today. Fans waited in line overnight in subfreezing temperatures to try to get the cheap ones. With the terrible economy, the Wings dropped prices on some nose bleed seats to $30 each, but people had to wait in line overnight to get them.

The team I am most afraid of in the playoffs right now - the Colombus Blue Jackets. They have this hotter than hell rookie goalie, who is good enough to win games all on his own. Whoever has to play the Jackets in the playoffs is in for a world of challenge and hurt against this kid.

Nearly forgot it's playoff time! Haven't followed this season at all - I'm so out of it I don't know which team to root for.

But best of luck to the Red Wings!

The Columbus Blue Jackets? How long have they been around? It's like I turn around and up pops another expansion team. Didn't know the NHL could afford another team.

With the economy the way it is, supposedly the NHL might lose up to half of its teams...

Columbus has been around for a few years now. I think that they came in the same year as the Atlanta team.

They have this hideous bright blue wasp as a mascott... He skates around on the ice carrying a flag at the end of games.

Red Wings and Bluejackets start their series tomorrow. Everyone is expecting an early exit for the Wings, as the Jackets have beaten them up all season long. Plus Columbus' goalie is a lot betetr than either of ours.

Still, anything can happen in the playoffs. Hopefully the Wings will remember they are Stanley Cup champions and raise their game accordingly. On the other hand, if those Blue Jackets are the hungrier team, then that's trouble...

Ran into this morning - very cute.

Never let it be said that Boston fans do not have a sense of humor.