Stephanie's Game Recap

I asked Stephanie to write up tonight's game recap. This is what she provided me. None of this was actually meant to be posted, but she has not given me anything other than this. So this is what you're getting.

"Tonight's game was truly one of high quality. The Wings came to win, and they played like it, too: they capitalized on every opportunity, played seamlessly, and were at the top of their game throughout every period."

"I CAN'T. I HAVE NOTHING. THERE IS NOTHING TO BE SAID. TONIGHT'S GAME CAN BE SUMMARIZED IN ONE WORD: CRAP. THAT'S ALL OF THE ELOQUENCE THAT I CAN POSSIBLY MUSTER. ATLANTA PLAYED LIKE THEY WANTED TO WIN, AND THE WINGS DIDN'T. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT. THE WINGS WERE FLAT. THERE WAS NOTHING. NOTHING.

Caps totally necessary."

And the Tweet Goes On...

You see what I did there? I rhymed 'beat' with 'tweet'...

The Wings won another game tonight. This time snatching an overall poorly played game from the young, upstart, 'contenders for the Central' Blues.

The first few periods were, according to what I've been reading and hearing, disappointing. I did manage to see Yimmy's brilliant skate blade kick save to close out the first, but then I was distracted by silly little things like random shit online and throwing out/packing my belongings for my trip back to Michigan on Friday. My feed went out for a while and I just let it sit like that for a good chunk of time during the second while other pressing matters were still at hand.

Fortunately, the Wings not only came out in the third looking determined to win the game, but over a span of 4 minutes, they proved once again why they're the best team in this league when they get clicking. This is not a team you want to have an off night against. This is not a team you want to have an off period against. Or, like tonight, this is not a team you want to have an off 5 minutes against.

Yimmy is good enough of a goaltender to keep the Wings in games they should be losing. And the Wings are deadly enough that they can embarrass you for taking just one shift off.

Hell, this might just be the strategy. Only play 5 minutes worth of a game. That way, when the playoffs come, while every other team has played 82 games, the Wings will theoretically only have played 16.4 games.

HOWEVER,
there were more important things that happened tonight for the Red Wings.

Actually it was more like for one Red Wing.

But really, it was for me.

Dan Cleary, my boy -and apparently my sock puppet- scored yet again. Not just once, either. Twice. One being your tie breaking, game winning goal. Here's a running update for you:

SEASON TOTALS: 9G, 5A, +5, 41 SOG

Before my tweet: 1G, 4A, -2, 23 SOG

After my tweet: 8G, 1A, +7, 18 SOG

 

I, admittedly, was terrified that my last post was going to be a jinx. I was going to hate myself forever and for eternity if, after posting that, he came out and laid a big fat goose egg. But, I did do a little research (you know I love that research) and found he had about 22 points in about 50 games in his career against the Blues. So I felt a little better about posting it. And he rewarded my confidence in him with a great game again. He is the anti-Dennis Nedry to my John Hammond. I love that man.

Why I'm Responsible For Cleary's Streak

Okay, first things first. Go back to the second entry I ever posted on this blog. Too lazy to do that? I'll help you out. 3rd paragraph, 5th sentence:

I was a Cleary fan his first season with us, before he got awesome.

Yes. I am an obnoxious OG Cleary fan. And I will usually take every opportunity to let you know that. But, there are times that it pans out for the better. And times when it makes me look like I actually know what the fuck I'm talking about when it comes to hockey in general and the Red Wings specifically.

And wouldn't you know it, we are currently right smack dab in the middle of one of those times. My boy Dan is riding a 5 game, 6 goal scoring streak. The best of his career. Also in the midst of a 7 game, 10 point streak.

Hockey players are fickle creatures. They get hot and go cold for only God knows what reason. Far be it from me to claim to be a God, but I am here tonight to tell you just why one player has the hot hands these days.

On November 3rd, the Wings were playing a game against the Calgary Flames. At 7:11 pm PST, approximately 13 minutes or so into the game, I said "Cleary's player of the night so far." With about 2 minutes left in the game, he did something that escapes me now, but prompted me to say "There's Cleary again. Best player on the team tonight."


And what happened after that game? Keep in mind, he only had 1 assist in the game.

Yeah.
I screen capped that shit.
You know why? Because he's my boy and I CALLED THAT SHIT. And I planned on doing this bragblog a while back.

But I didn't. I kept my gloating reserved to slight little tweets here and there. Nothing major, nothing really of note. Now, those of you who follow me and actually read the bullshit I put up on Twitter might know that I'm bound to just spout out silly little things that don't really mean anything in the grand scheme of things. This time, though, one of those 'silly little things' just so happened to turn into a fucking prophecy.

Nostradamus up in this bitch.

That's me. At 9:47 pm PST (that picture above is in EST, by the way), saying to expect big things out of Cleary. That was on the 3rd. Right after that 1 assist performance against Calgary. November 3rd.


Two days later, the Wings played Edmonton. How's my boy do? 1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 3 SOG.
The next day, the Wings played Vancouver. How'd Cleary do in the loss? 1 goal, no assists, -1, 2 SOG.
On the 8th, we came home and faced Phoenix. Cleary? 1 goal, still no assists, +1 rating, 5 SOG.
The next game, an Edmonton rematch, and how'd 11 perform? 2 goals. No assists. +2. 3 SOG.
Against Colorado, just 2 days ago? Clears scored another goal, no assists, was +1, and had 2 SOG.


Here, let me break this down for you. 

SEASON TOTALS: 7G, 5A, +3, 38 SOG

Before my tweet: 1G, 4A, -2, 23 SOG

After my tweet: 6G, 1A, +5, 15 SOG

Before I opened my mouth, he was shooting at a 4% rate. Since I said something, he's shooting 40%. Goals in 5 straight games. Before that, he hadn't scored since the season opener against Anaheim. 

Is it a little cocky for me to take credit for this?

Yes, yes it is. Very much so.

Is that going to stop me?

Not a chance.

Lord help me if this post is a jinx.

NHL Refs Get It Right For Once...

...Right in the fucking face, that is.

Writer's Block, Wings Win Tonight.

The Wings won tonight in Calgary. Writer's block won tonight in California.

This is really all I got right now.