Toronto 3-Detroit 2

Ouch, ouch, OUCH!!! That was one bad game they played tonight. WAY too sloppy, too many turn overs--the guys didn't look comfortable playing their lines, but with the pre-season injuries, it wasn't unexpected. It will be very interesting to see if Hossa and Datsyuk can get work well with each other or if the EuroTwins will have to be put back together. One down, 81 more to play before the next playoff season.

Other than the new guy being on the ice, there were a few more things that were different. Lidstrom is wearing a visor and will continue to do so throughout the season--thank goodness. (I can't imagine what he looked like shortly after the injury, as the white of his eye was STILL blood red tonight.) VF was showing off a new, short haircut--he is just so damn cute. JLA now has 50 banners in the rafters with the addition of tonight's. And then, several things were just the same. Babcock was up to his shuffling of the lines later in the game--and that is good. Z is still maintaining his mountain man look--and if it keeps him playing like a scoring fool, good for him. Holmstrom--who got both goals tonight--is still camping out in front of the opposite net and doing very well in that position. Lilya and Samuelsson were being inconsistent, as usual. Some business as usual. Oh dear.

Saturday they play against Ottawa--I hope they are rested enough for the game, because Babcock will be working their asses off after tonight's fiasco.


--Detroit Red Wings team members pose with their 2007-2008 Stanley Cup championship banner before their season opening NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Detroit, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)--