Game Recap: DET 4 - PHX 1

It's amazing how short and sweet a recap can be when the Wings don't give me a lot to bitch about. This was a good, solid effort that warmed the cockles of my Detroit loving heart. Did I get everything on my wish list? No, but I got the final score, and frankly, I'll take that baby and run. Gladly.

Period 1
Well, the less said about the very beginning of this period, the better. Number one, because the first ten minutes made us look like a bunch of 90-year-old men skating our way through a bad bursitis flare; and number two, because if it weren't for Jimmah, we'd have been down 3-0 before anyone on the team managed to straighten their joints into an upright position. Thankfully, things started to pick up in time for the 2nd powerplay, leading to Homer's goal on the tip off Lidstrom's shot right after the PP clock wound down. The last 5 minutes did end up being quite awesome.

Period 2
Better effort, but what was with those calls? I swear to God the refs were just making shit up there. Once again, the Draper-Helm-Eaves line made me resent the fact that none of them has the hands to be a 1st liner, because if they did, we'd be the frickin' ugly, nuclear-powered juggernaut of the NHL.

Other than Line 3, my POTG so far? Totally Nick Lidstrom. True, Homer got credit for 2 goals, but The Perfect Human was making shit happen out there, which to me is more important than the goals going under his name.

Period 3
Nice consistent effort again, which I like to see. I have to say I still haven't noticed Leino much tonight, but I'm seeing Nick Lidstrom a lot, and that can make up for almost anything. Homer has also looked awesome, and Datsyuk is totally waking up. Finally. Loved his goal. Of course, it's hard not to love a Datsyuk goal.

Come to think of it, it's hard not to love ANY goal this season.

And another Helmer empty-netter. Oh, yes, tonight, life is sweet.

Summary
Okay, apparently I have to choose between slow starts, 60 randomly inconsistent minutes, and quitting before the clock runs out. If tonight is a prime example of slow starts, I'll take it. The first 10 minutes were ugly, but once the Wings settled into it, it turned into a good 50-minute session of hustle and flow. Minus the prostitution part.

Jimmy was awesome, once again. I think the debate over "is he the starter" is moot, at this point. As long as he keeps starting, that makes him the de facto starter, doesn't it? And as long as he keeps playing like this, I'm happy to have him keep starting, stopping, and doing everything else in between.

All in all, tonight made me happy and kicked the new year off to a great start. Let's hope we can keep it up and claw our way back up the standings. I see no reason why we shouldn't. And once we get out injuries back on the ice, I see no reason why the rest of the league shouldn't quake with fear at the very mention of our name. After all, that which hasn't killed us has made us stronger. And faster. And hungrier. And I, for one, can't wait to gnaw on the bones of our enemies.*

*Wow, maybe I should talk to my doctor about some Xanax, or something. Haldol, maybe?