Leelanau Sports Guy’s World at sportspig.com

By AJ Petronzi
In Play Magazine

In a goal scoring affair, the Detroit Red Wings have defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in Chicago.

Chicago broke out to an early lead with goals from Duncan Keith and Andrew Ladd. Then, after a Chicago goal was called back, the Red Wings scored five goals from Brian Rafalski, Nicklas Lidstrom, Jason Williams, Valtteri Filppula, and Pavel Datsyuk. Chicago came storming back with a pair of goals from Ladd to give him a hat-trick, but they couldn’t catch the Wings.
This game was all Detroit after the goal by Dustin Byfuglien was called back because of incidental contact (A bad call that was almost identical to the goal called back on Detroit on Monday against Colorado). Detroit played a great game in the last 40 minutes, but the first 20 were terrible. Todd Bertuzzi left the game with a lower body injury in the second after an odd, but clean, check from Ben Eager.

In Play! Man of the Game: Todd Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi, although leaving with an injury, was the only Red Wing who played well in the first. He was also very active offensively, setting up three goals although he only was credited with two assists.

A list of the top 10 players in the NHL from the 2000s written by Yahoo! Sports Greg Wyshynski. Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom tops the list edging out New Jersey Devils Martin Brodeur. Here’s a quick peek at what he said about Lidstrom…

Simply put, he was the total package. An offensive player who tallied 574 points, his four best point-scoring seasons all coming in the 2000s. A defensive player who was a plus-232 for the decade, frequently logging more than 28 minutes a night for the Wings. A leader who won the Conn Smythe for the Wings’ 2001-02 Stanley Cup champions, and who then captained a second Detroit team to the Cup in 2007-08. And he made it look frequently effortless.

I can’t argue with that!

Read The 10 best NHL players of the last decade at Yahoo! Sports

Photo courtesy of NHL.com

I know Darren Helm had the game-winning goal in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals to help the Detroit Red Wings to a 2-1 OT win and a 4 games to 1 series win over the Chicago Blackhawks. But after reading about this play, I had to see it for myself and it was a very impressive shift for Helm.

Helm is a perfect example of why the Red Wings are the class of the NHL. Young guys who know their roles and are taught how to play the right way. Now let’s bring that Cup back to Hockeytown!

Yahoo! Sports Ross McKeon is previewing each team for the upcoming 2008-09 NHL season. Today it’s the Detroit Red Wings. Here’s McKeon’s three keys to the Red Wings season…

The reincarnation of goaltender Chris Osgood is inspiring, but there is no plan to have a 1A/1B goaltending tandem like last season. The Red Wings went out and signed a competent backup in Ty Conklin, who saved Pittsburgh’s bacon when Marc-Andre Fleury missed extended time in the second half last season, but it’s clear this is Osgood’s net. The 35-year-old has to prove his leading the league in save percentage during both the regular season and playoffs was no fluke.

Second, and you really have to nitpick to find something wrong with Detroit last season, but the Red Wings want to have more success against the teams in their division. Detroit ran away with a 24-point edge in the Central Division, but it was on the strength of its record against nondivision rivals. Inside the division, the Red Wings had only the third-best point total, and they were just four points better than last place-finishing St. Louis.

Third, Detroit’s best players have to continue to be its best players. Nicklas Lidstrom is 38, and his defense partner Brian Rafalski will be 35 when the season starts. It all starts on defense with Detroit, and the top pair set the bar high. The physical duo of Niklas Kronwall and Brad Stuart need to hit, and that should give Detroit a top-four on the blue line that possibly only Anaheim can rival.

They’re basically not changing anything and should be one of the favorites. As always is the case with the Red Wings, goaltending will be the biggest issue as we see if Chris Osgood can repeat his amazing success of last year.

Read Wings poised for another title run at Yahoo! Sports

Dates have been announced for the 2008 Prospects Tourney and Detroit Red Wings Training Camp at Centre ICE in Traverse City. The Propects Tourney runs from September 13-17 and Red Wings Training Camp from September 20-23.

Read Prospect tourney & Red Wings Camp schedule in the Record Eagle
Visit the official site at Detroit Red Wings Training Camp 2008 for more info

Visitors will also see many new additions to the exterior of Center ICE including a familiar face…

Read Image at Centre ICE honors Drake in the Record Eagle

Detroit Red Wings forward Dallas Drake will be bringing the Stanley Cup to the Open Space in Traverse City on Labor Day, September 1, 2008. The event is being called “Stanley by the Bay” and will help support the Grand Traverse Hockey Association.

Here’s a sampling of what to expect…

It will include an opportunity to have photos taken with the Cup, autographed pictures and T-shirt of Drake and raffle prizes that include autographed Red Wings jerseys and sticks and regular-season tickets.

Food will be provided by the U&I Lounge, and hockey-related activities for children will be available.

Read Stanley Cup visit slated in the Record Eagle
Learn more about the Grand Traverse Hockey Association at TCHockey.com

It wasn’t easy, but the Detroit Red Wings have captured the Stanley Cup with a 3-2 win in game 6 to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4 games to 2. It’s not easy being the best team all year and having that target on your back, but the Red Wings managed to pull it off. Coach Mike Babcock earned every bit of that contract extension he’s going to get and I look for the Wings to stay near the top with their solid nucleus.

Absolute Michigan has compiled some great links, photos and video about the Stanley Cup Finals and the Wings terrific season, go check it out!

Read 2008 Detroit Red Wings bring the Stanley Cup to Hockeytown! at Absolute Michigan.

After losses in Games 4 & 5, the Detroit Red Wings started fast and cruised to a 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals versus Pittsburgh Penguins. Game 1 is Saturday at Joe Louis Arena. Of all the people to step it up for the Wings tonight, it was Dallas Drake who led the way with a goal and an assist. He’s taken his share of hits from the fans and media all year, but tonight he was the one delivering them.

Read Red Wings headed back to Stanley Cup finals at Yahoo! Sports

My Pick: Wings win the Cup in 5 games!

The family and the day job has taken up all of my time as of late, but I plan on posting regularly (or at least as regular as I ever post) soon. That doesn’t mean I haven’t paid any attention to the ups and downs of our trusty Detroit teams…

Detroit Pistons
That was a big win in Game 4 without Chauncey Billups, and I thought it had basically clinched the series, then Orlando point guard Jameer Nelson went and guaranteed a victory. I believe that will wrap it up as all of us know only one person does guarantees around here! Now about the MVP of Game 4, Antonio McDyess, I’ll let Greg Eno tell you about that!

Detroit Red Wings
Chris Osgood and Johan Franzen have been the two great stories of this year’s playoffs, and it’s been fun so far for the Wings. It looks like Pavel Datsyuk is trying to join the party with a hat trick to lead the Wings to a 5-2 win in Game 3 and a 3-0 series lead. I’ve been listening to the Wings when I can (remember no TV here!) and I have to say I am more and more impressed with Mike Babcock every game. The guy is a terrific coach and gets everything he can out of everyone on the roster.

Detroit Tigers
Ugly. That’s the word we’ve used to describe the Tigers play after most of their games this season. It hasn’t been pretty, but it is showing signs of turning around. Luckily for the Tigers everyone else in the A.L. Central has been almost as inconsistent as them, so they are right in the thick of things. If Justin Verlander and the rest of the starters can figure out how to make it through 6 innings anytime soon, then the Tigers will be in great shape. The offense is picking up and some players (like Gary Sheffield) are finally swinging the bats better. It’s still going to be a fun summer at Comerica!

Detroit Lions
Nothing too exciting about the draft and that’s probably one of the best things for the Lions. They drafted Rod Marinelli-type guys and should be faster and hopefully tougher next season. A more dangerous than it looks schedule doesn’t do them any favors, but I do an improvement on the 7-9 record of a year ago. Will it be enough to make the playoffs? In the NFC you just never know.

Well that’s it for now, I’ll be bringing you Traverse City Beach Bums updates as they begin their 3rd summer in TC. I was just told my Aunt will have her company tickets in hand this week, so I’m looking forward to picking out my games. I hope to make the All-Star Game and skills challenge, I think that will be fun!

The Detroit Free Press has organized some of their best photos of our favorite Detroit Sports Legends and Moments. Very cool! You can check out many photos including Justin Verlander’s No-Hitter, the Fab Five, the Best of Pistons-Bulls Rivalry, and even Joey Harrington (for lots of great sack photos!).

Visit freep.com/sportsphotos to check them out!

Above photo by the Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Red Wings arrived in town yesterday for physicals and golf, but today GM Ken Holland and the Wings get set to start another run at the Stanley Cup. You can check out the Camp Schedule here.

Read Evaluation time for Red Wings in the Record Eagle

Traverse City resident Dallas Drake is coming home. Originally drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 1989, he played two seasons before being traded and has spent the last six seasons in St. Louis. The former Northern Michigan Star signed a one-year deal.

“It’s exciting,” Drake said. “I still feel I have some good hockey left in me. I’ve always had a lot of respect for the (Red Wings) organization. Year in and year out they’re one of the top teams in the league. There’s got to be a good reason for it.”

Drake will be asked to add some “grit” to the Wings lineup and some toughness…

“He’s a very physical player who will add grit to our lineup and make our team even more difficult to play against,” Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said in a statement. “He’s a veteran player, and you can never have enough experience and leadership on a team.”

The Wings are still looking for a top-6 forward but the signing of Drake now gives them 13 forwards on the roster.

Read Traverse City resident signs 1-year deal with Detroit in the Record Eagle

Hockey writer Al Strachan does his best David Letterman impression and comes up with his Top Ten List for fixing the NHL.

Read Ten ways to fix the NHL at FOXSports.com

The season just ended, but it’s never too early to get a jump on Detroit Red Wings Training Camp in Traverse City. It’s the 10th year the Wings will be in town. Tickets go on sale Saturday, June 2nd from 10am to 3pm at Centre ICE. The camp runs September 14th through 18th.

You can also get training camp news and ticket info at www.redwingstrainingcamp.com!

Read Camp tickets on sale at the Record Eagle

The NFL Draft – I am in a NFL Draft contest again this year (last year I got 1 right) and I have absolutely no idea who is going where. The Lions have many options and they have to wait to see what the Raiders are going to do before they can get really serious about the draft. I like the Lions to trade down to #4 and then get Gaines Adams. It’s the position they need the most and Adams appears to be an impact player. Read Dan Wetzel’s column The misadventures of Millen if you want to laugh and be scared at the same time!

Maggs – Is it me, or is Magglio Ordonez quietly having a great start to 2007. He’s first on the Tigers in RBI’s, 2B’s, Runs, OBP, SLG & OPS, and he’s second in HR’s and BA, but no one’s talking about him. This is the Maggs that people weren’t sure we would ever see again, but he appears to be healthy and back to normal. I now it’s early, but Maggs playing like this is huge as Sheffield and the bottom of the order struggle.

Wings vs. Sharks – The Wings are in for a tough series, that should go seven games, and I like there chances with home-ice. They struggled against the Sharks during the regular season, losing 3 of 4, but they played two very solid games to finish off Calgary and will hopefully carry that momentum into tonight’s game. On the other hand, I wouldn’t be surprised if they lost tonight either. It’s just going to be that kind of series.

Pistons vs. Magic – If Detroit is going to lose one, tonight’s the night. I just don’t see it happening. I think they will sweep the Magic and get some rest for the Bulls. Chicago is going to be the toughest team (and series) in the Eastern Conference.

High School Baseball – If you aren’t busy on Saturday, head over to Wuerfel Park to watch Lake Leelanau St. Mary take part in the inaugural Beach Bums Division 3 & 4 Invitational Tournament. The Eagles face Traverse City St. Francis at 10 AM, followed by Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart and Gaylord St. Mary’s at noon. A consolation and championship game will follow. Tickets are $5 for the entire day, and let me tell you Wuerfel Park is not a bad place to watch a game!

Random Stuff – Could less people be excited that Barry Bonds is now at 741 home runs? Seriously, no one cares outside of San Francisco. There’s not much better than Fantasy Baseball. Winning or losing, it’s just fun! I can’t wait for the Beach Bums season to start, it was exciting (and well played) baseball to watch last summer, and I look for more of the same as the Bums have added some good talent along with their “new” coach! Lots of people have Drew Stanton going very high in the draft, and I think be a good pick and could be a legitimate starter in the NFL!