LA KINGS OUTSIDER 2.0

My 2010-11 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings With the season starting tomorrow; it's prediction time...   EASTERN CONFERENCE The Capitals and Devils are head and shoulders above the rest.  The Penguins added some nice pieces to their blueline but forcing Sidney Crosby to spend another season playing with Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz on his wings should be against league policy.  If Philly can acquire a proven goaltender like Tim Thomas or Tomas Vokoun; they should be recognized as legit contenders as well.

A Bit Awkward?... I know I'm kind of late but the photo was so disturbing; it deserved it's own blog post. The Red Wings finally announced last week that they've signed Mike Modano to a one-year deal .  The 40-year old signed on to be the Wings third-line center.  It was a difficult situation in Dallas where the management team led by GM Joe Nieuwendyk, a former teammate of Modano's finally decided that he was no longer in the organization's plans moving forward. Modano, the all-time leader among U.S.-born players in points and goals scored will wear jersey #90 for obvious reasons (Gordie Howe).  Modano will always be a Minnesota North Star/Dallas Star just like Ray Bourque will always be a Boston Bruin.  Bourque chased his Cup; Modano already got his so I guess he' just chasing the dream of playing one more NHL season back home in front of family & friends in his home state of Michigan.

Here's some shots I took at yesterday's game and some shots of the Wings during warmups.

Jonathan Quick And The Kings Make History Wow.  Quick game recap before the Big Game starts.  I'm not sure how the NFL can follow up that Caps/Pens game.  Not sure what the NHL is thinking when they make their schedule and put that game on the same day as the Super Bowl but moving on... This is just going to be one long rant.  Partly because Rich Hammond wasn't able to cover the game and well it was just that exciting that I want to recap everything again. The Wings up 3-0 after one but it didn't feel like it. Filppula's goal was a fluke at best and the Kings zone coverage breakdown with just five seconds left was just bad timing.  The scoreboard read 3-0 but I was feeling like it was more 1-0.  Call me a homer. Although, I did find myself thinking, "The Wings are looking like the old Wings again.  Tomas Holmstrom looks awesome out there."  Once the Wings get Franzen back; watch out.  The Wings are making the playoffs. Second period star...