Rafalski Retires

This morning at a press conference inside the Olympia Club, Detroit Red Wing defenseman, Brian Rafalski announced his retirement.

Rafalski said the decision was made 2 months ago with his wife so that they can "serve their family and serve others." For the past season, Rafalski has had trouble with a sore back and knee. He is leaving the Red Wings with one year left on his contract worth $6 Million.

The Dearborn native played college hockey in Wisconsin. After he graduated, Rafalski started his professional career in Europe before heading into the NHL. The defenseman has won 3 Stanley Cups. (Two with New Jersey and one with Detroit.)

Rafalski's presence will be missed on the blue line. It will be interesting to see how Kenny Holland shapes the team for next season.

Warm-Up: Chicago @ Detroit

Warm Up:

The Wings will play their last regular season home game tonight against Chicago. It's going to be a tough game tonight for both teams as they look to secure their spots in the play-offs. The Wings, who already have a play-off spot locked, are still looking to finish in 2nd place in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, Chicago is going to do whatever it takes to keep 8th place.

Maybe we should ask Marty Turco what the outcome will be tonight... I'm sure he's taking bets.


Injuries/Scratches:

Henrik Zetterberg - Lower Body Injury. Out for the weekend, day to day once the play-offs begin.
Niklas Kronwall- Upper Body Injury. Out for the weekend, will be ready to start for the play-offs.

Chris Osgood- ...

Draper should be the healthy scratch tonight

Other Notes-

Congratulations to the Farmington Hills Firefighters for winning their division in the Metro Detroit Fire/Police Ice Hockey Championships! The team went 3-1 and brought back, my friend and Hockeytown Rundown Reader, Michael Haase out of his hockey retirement. It's Haase's 4th championship. He says he would like to thank Kevin Hodson and Dominic Hasek for the old school tutoring.


Predictions:

Final Score-
Stef- 3-2, Wings
Danielle- 3-1, Blackhawks

Player of the Game-
Stef- Pavel Datsyuk
Danielle- Brian Rafalski


Go Wings!

The Rundown: NOT THE JIMMY!

First Period-

• LOL Brett Lebda.

• What an atmosphere. Gotta love the original six match ups. such a loud crowd. octopus thrown before the game even starts.. .you know its going to be a good game.

• "lets go red wings" "go leafs go" "lets go red wings" "go leafs go" GOD! I LOVE match ups like this because of the crowd alone.
  

• GOAL! Hank scored a great goal with helpers from Hudler and Lidstrom. 

Darren Helm waiting to make a play.

• "Helm can go from zero to 60 in 4.3 seconds" ... Just like a Mercedes Benz, right Mickey?

• Blue 43 has nothing on red 43. anyways, blue 43 Kadri scored, 1-1.

• First Period ends with everyone tied up, 1-1. 

Filppula getting smashed against the boards for going after the puck.

• Turned on CBC during the first intermission. Don Cherry never fails to show us the perfect suit. Then he provided us with this great line... "Fillapov or whatever his name is." Apparently, Don Cherry thinks that Finland is a part of Russia?

• Coaches Corner finished just in time for me to listen to Larry Murphy! yesss! win! HOT DOG JOKE! ....this game just has "win" written all over it.
  

Second Period-

Kronwall's shot from the blue line

• Kronwall made a great shot from the blue line and Holmstrom tapped it in for the goal. It was a pretty goal, but what got me was Homer's reaction to it. Immediately after it went in he checked all around to make sure that the ref wasn't going to call it back. Hilarious... sort of... actually, it kind of sucks that Homer has to do that now... BUT! Wings up 2-1.

• Abdelkader went after Daryl Boyce after Boyce laid a hit on Rafalski. Rafalski left the game to go get medical attention in the locker room. So anyways, Abby saw the hit at center ice then went after Boyce and dropped the gloves. Abby got a few good hits in. I liked it. 

Abdelkader and Miller checking Leaf's into the boards.

• So that was weird. A shot at the glass.. glass cracks... second period ends early. Which means that the third will be 22:01 long.

• Now, the only time I remember something like this happening, where time or something was changed was during the Winter Classic where the Caps and Pens had to change sides halfway through the third because of poor ice conditions.

• Do you guys know of any other time when there is some change like this to the game? Does this happen more often than I think it does?

• By the way... those Red Wing Commercials with Huds and Z playing chess STILL crack me up.

Third Period-

Jimmy Howard ready to make a save.

• Scary incident where Jimmy ended up on the ice, injured. One of the Leafs, Lupul, put the puck in the net to tie everything at 2-2 while lying on top of Jimmy. Jimmy left the game and looked like he was pretty shaken up.

• Joey MacDonald came in immediately. Lets all hope that Jimmy is alright. 

Dog pile on Joey Mac.

• Hudler scored a goal quick to regain momentum. 3-2, Wings.

• Bert scored an empty netter to make the final 4-2, Wings. Because of this win, the Leafs probably ended any hopes of going on to the playoffs.
• JoeyMac brought in a great effort to end the game.
  

Next up for the Wings: The Chicago Blackhawks, Monday night.

Go Wings!

Jiri Hudler wins first star of the night with a goal and an assist.

{Photo Credit belongs to Stefanie Mullins}

The Rundown: Old MacDonald

Let's pretend that it isn't St. Patricks Day and I miraculously spell every word in this post correctly.

First Period-

Drew Miller!!!! Drew decided to show Babcock that he DESERVES to play every game. Miller had a nice goal only 33 seconds into the game. This has just got to be the sign of the beginning of a good night. Its St. Patricks Day, Miller scores, time for a Miller Lite.

Miller had another great shot on goal, however, Mason saved. But then, soon after, Miller decided to make the period all his and get into a fight. Someone is going for the Gordie Howe Hat Trick... why not?

Filppula scored his second goal in two nights as well. Keep it up, Fil.

And Joey MacDonald, I talked sh-- about you in the Warm-Up. YOU OWNED THE ICE during the first period. I can only hope that you will play like this the ENTIRE game.


First Intermish-
Mickey York said that Larry Murphy was "a little lucky charm" then Murph laughed uncontrollably. Then I laughed uncontrollably. The York said Murph would do an Irish Jig during the Second Intermission. I'll let you know if that really happened.


Second Period-

Too many men on the ice penalty. DUMB. DUMB. DUMB. Let's get these outrageous penalties out of our systems now though...

Pretty boring second period though.

Second Intermish-
Murphy did not do an Irish jig. Total disappointment.

Third Period-

SHIT! Datsyuk went into the locker room with the trainer. BAD NEWS BEARS. While we're at it, Rafalski went down again too...

Johnathan Ericsson-- you're not the brightest, buddy.

P.S. Modano's face after the ref brought the octopus off the ice... PRICELESS.





Time to pretend to be Irish... In Mickey Redmond's words, Time for a few ginger ales! Happy St. Patricks Day!