As most of you know that read my blogs, I am a loyal Detroit sports fan sometimes to a fault. But after last night's 4-1 loss to the Black Hawks, I have not given up but know who is the better team. The first period of the game was pretty even, and I can only imagine what Joel Quennville said to his team during the intermission. After whatever was said, the Black Hawks came out and proved to me without any doubt they are the better team.

The Red Wings had their chances, despite Chicago's suffocating attack which left the Wings trapped in their zone facing shot after shot for what seemed like an endless amount of time. The Black Hawks out shot the Red Wings 35-14 after the first period, and admittedly the score could have been worse if not for goaltender Jimmy Howard making save after save, until he allowed the second Hawks goal.

The only goal I did not understand was the third goal, when Howard appeared to intentionally knock the puck off the net which led to the puck going in the net for a 3-1 lead. What the hell was he thinking, if he would have froze the puck on the back of the net, covered it with his stick he would have gotten a whistle almost instantly. But instead, he knocks if off the net and the Black Hawks burn him seconds later.

I am tired of the announcers making excuses for the Red Wings game after game, it has gotten very old hearing they were tired from playing Game 7 in Anaheim. Why can't they just say the Red Wings are rebuilding, which for the most part is the truth. There is a lot of youth on both defense and offense, and one day they will be a Stanley Cup contender again just not this year. Even a person with no knowledge of the game itself, knows that replacing the pieces to their Stanley Cups was and is going to take some time We as fans miss Lidstrom and Holmstrom, and knew they would be difficult to replace. I almost feel sorry for the organization, because they have not clue to what they are getting themselves into next year moving to the much bigger Eastern Conference. In turn the streak may end next year, regardless just as simply put as that.....

I am not looking forward to Saturday afternoon's game, even though history suggests the Wings will play much better than they did Wednesday night..

Sometimes viewing greatness on television even in high def does not do greatness justice.  It has to be witnessed in person.  Such was the case with the Rangers 5-0 stomping of the Capitals in Game 7 on Monday.  Seated about 15 rows up behind the Rangers cage, I got a bird's eye view for 2 periods of how the best plays his position.  For each challenge, Lundqvist was in perfect position to make the perfect play on the frustrated Capital forwards.  It was not so much the need to make the cat-quick save, although he certainly could do that, as it was the precision in body positioning that always covered the maximum net with the minimum of effort.   

Lundqvist's efforts were augmented by superior shot blocking.  In game 7, the Rangers blocked 27 shots - nearly as many as made it through to goal.  In fact, many would be scoring chances were defused by a Ranger stick or shin pad.  There is no question that the Rangers commitment to Team Defense was a major factor.   

No Capital was probably more frustrated than Alex Ovechkin.  For any number of shifts, OV did all he could to position himself to score.  He was flying all over the ice doling out hits and trying to rally his team.  In end, Ovechkin said it best himself: "In my mind, it was Lundqvist. They have great team, no doubt about it, but Lundqvist was unbelievable. Just unbelievable.From where I was sitting, it was hard to argue.  Congratulations Rangers on a dominant Game 7 and a Series Win over a good Capitals team. 

Is this the end of the line for the Detroit Red Wings and their 22-year playoff run, I think so. I am a loyal Red Wing fan, but with the change to the Eastern Conference scheduled to take place during the 2013-14 season, and their lack of team size in my opinion in just may happen unless they take a different direction and add some size to their lineup. I mean come on, how many times can this team be punished by teams with a huge size difference for which they will face on a nightly basis.

Let's be serious here for a moment, seeing teams like the Bruins 5 to 6 times a year will not be good for the smaller Wings unless they make changes and add size and even more toughness than Jordin Tootoo and Justin Abdelkader provide. But we will see what direction the Wings head after the playoffs are over, these changes are necessary in order for them to compete in the East, and has to happen during this offseason. 

Is this the answer to the Detroit Lions problems as a team, I highly doubt it. Honestly I believe Martin Mayhew missed the boat again when he drafted him number 5. I personally believed they should have drafted a tackle to replace Jeff Backus who retired during the offseason. But this is typical Lions draft strategy since the Matt Millen era, draft a project (Charles Rogers, Titus Young) and pray that they work out. When they don't they release them in order to save face. I am not knocking their entire draft, but there were a lot better players out there that were ready to play this year, not two years down the road. I guess its time for the Lions to find a real general manager, who will draft to the needs of the team, and break the draft day trend. Oh wait I forgot, that is why they are the only Detroit team that I have never seen win a championship during my near 49 years on this earth. Why is this, because they do not have a clue!

Well I have to admit that this weekends series against the Indians has been rather interesting, and not the walkover I thought it would be. Nice to see that Tito, Nick and all the other additions are starting to pay off for the Indians. If this trend continues like it should, because those I mentioned will not let the others quit, then the Central Division might stay interesting this year. 

Thanks for stopping by, and I will see you the next time.

If losing a shootout to rival Montreal wasn't bad enough...Then Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask a bit of a tantrum, that got embarrassing quick...

I hope the only thing he hurt was his pride!