Detroit Red Wings

In honor of the possibility of another great Red Wing memory tonight, I'm just wondering which game or moment has defined your allegiance to arguably the most successful professional organization in sports over the last twenty years. 

Mine is McCarty's goal against Philly in 1997. My grandma was a diehard fan and McCarty was her favorite player. Everytime I watch that video now I have a hard time fighting back tears. 

Pre-Game on Versus starts at 7:30. Puck Drop shortly after 8:00. FS-D is carrying the game as well. 

Complete TV info: VERSUS (HD),TSN (HD),RDS (HD),CSN-CA (HD),FS-D (HD)

Earlier tonight, the Detroit Red Wings clinched the Central Division title by defeating Minnesota Wild 4-2.  This year is the 20th consecutive year the Red Wings have gone to the playoffs.  Today is also the 9th time in the last 10 seasons that the Wings have won the Central Division.

Statistical Breakdown:  http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=310403005

Wings are playing at Tampa.

This is the first regular season game between the Wings and the StevieY-led Lightning.  Both teams are first place in their respective divisions.

Wings are up 1-0 on a Dan Cleary goal, midway through the first, and have killed off three consecutive minors.

Streams here: http://www.myp2pforum.eu/threads/52452-NHL-Today!-February-17th-2011

TSN reporting (along with an explosion of Twitters) that the Red Wings and free agent goalie Evgeni Nakokov are close to terms on a deal.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=350270

However, there is a big snag to this...he would have to clear wavers. I have a hard time believeing he would make it all the way through (Tampa Bay comes to mind as someone in need of a goalie).

For sake of argument lets say it does go through, is this the end of Chris Osgood's career or does he try to get to another team? Do you think it will improve Jimmy Howard's play or will Nabokov actually challenge for the starting role in the playoffs? I really hope not because while he has been a good goalie in the regular season, he is complete dog shit in the playoffs (or Olympics) so I do not want him anywhere near the ice for the Wings in the playoffs.

EDIT: A couple of interesting tweets from Bob McKenzie at TSN

- My guess, and it's only that, is DET and Nabokov have a deal they can live with, but remains to be seen whether contract is legal per CBA

- Guessing there is something in deal to "discourage" other teams from claiming Nabby on waivers, but will it fly with NHL? Just a guess tho.

EDIT 2: From TSN, also being spread around the internet

According to those sources If completed, Nabokov will receive $570,000 for the remainder of the year, which pro-rated works out to roughly $250,000 on the Red Wings cap.

It is very hard to believe, for that money and cap hit, he will make it through wavers to the Wings.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/01/red_wings_nicklas_lidstr...

Nick Lidstrom and Eric Staal are going to be the captains for the NHL all-star game.  I'm glad the NHL got this one right and really glad they didn't go with Crosby and Ovechkin.