A good start...

So after a long summer, hockey is back in Hockeytown. Finally. The season did not kick off with a puck dropping, rather a memorial for Brad McCrimmon, Ruslan Salei, and Stefan Liv, all of whom were killed in a tragic plane crash that took the lives of the entire Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. (Hence the black band across the Lokomotiv logo. The Red Wings wives lined the ice in front of the bench, and McCrimmon's family walked on the red carpet out the center ice, to be met by Niklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk. They presented Brad's kids with a #2Red Wings sweater each, and there was the obligatory moment of silence, during which there was not a dry eye in Joe Louis Arena, and possibly not even in the Greater Detroit and Windsor areas.

In the game, the Wings beat the Senators 5-3 on goals from Bertuzzi, Hudler, White, Emmerton, and Lidstrom. It was a good first game to watch, because the pressure is on for the home opener, and nobody wants to watch the home team get beat in the very first game back for a new season.

Some interesting things: During the 2nd intermission interview with Mike Babcock, he referred to "Helm's Line". Considering that this line consists of Abdelkader, Bertuzzi, White and Lidstrom, that's a hell of a compliment. Actually, if Darren Helm actually hears this sound byte, he may faint.

In any case, the Wings looked strong for the latter half of the 1st period and all through the 2nd, building a 4-0 lead. In the 3rd, however, I guess they decided that 4 goals was enough, and started giving up the puck. They were really bad in the first half of the 3rd, allowing three goals and scoring one. They still won, but they are going to have to put 60 solid minutes together consistently to have another shot at the Cup. Playing 45 minutes per game isn't going to cut it, as Coach Babcock no doubt let the team know in the locker room after the game.

I have friends in the Navy across the pond in places that you wouldn't even think of going, and while they are gone, I will be reporting their teams scores in this blog. Yeah, I KNOW its a Red Wings blog, but like I said, they are doing things that would make your nuts retract, so get over it. Soon.

For Kenny Jenzen, I am sorry to report that the New York Rangers lost in overtime 3-2 to the Los Angeles Kings. Henrik Lundqvist was the starting goaltender, and to say that he was playing for the home crowd is an understatement, since the game was in Sweden, and the sellout crowd was on their feet when he was announced. However, the Rangers had a few miscues in their own zone, which led to several scoring chances for the Kings. It was a tight game for the most part, with both teams showing some solid hockey, and the Rangers led 2-1 in the 3rd when the Kings tied it. Overtime looked like standard OT hockey, but then Ryan McDonagh had to sit for two minutes on a hooking call, and the Kings quickly capitalized as Jack Johnson tapped in a pass for the winner.

Garrett, I do not know who you are rooting for, but since you are from Georgia, I will assume that you are cheering for the Winnipeg Jets. They play tomorrow.

Johnny Long, I know you are not on deployment, but let me take this opportunity to laugh at you for ignoring my invitation to come watch the Dallas Stars play the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Stars won, due largely in part to their goalie, Kari Lehtonen, who made 38 saves on 39 shots and basically put on a personal highlight reel in the 59 minutes he was on the ice. Sucks to be you, that was the best game of the night. Maybe next time you wont dis your only friend that you don't have to pay. And no, staying home to view still photos on Nancy Grace's nip slip do not trump hockey. Ever.