2\28 The Wings peppered Panther's goalie Roberto Luongo with 60 shots and amazingly he stopped 
57 of them. It was not enough, the Wings win 3-2 in OT. Scoring were Robitaille(2) and Hull(gwg.)
next up: at Pittburgh on Saturday afternoon.

2\27 It took the guys a little while to shake the rust loose, but they still managed a win in
Tampa Bay 4-3 in OT. Shanny got two, including the game winner. Fedorov and Robitaille also 
scored. The victory was the Wings' 4th straight. All were on the road. The crowd of 20,914 set 
an Ice Palace record for a hockey game. Next up: at Florida tonight.
    There are a few idiots on the Red Wing chat rooms and sports radio call-in shows who want 
Yzerman's head for playing for Team Canada on a weakened knee and depriving the Wings of his 
services for the next two weeks. All I have to say on this matter is that the Captain has been 
an exceptional hockey player, team leader, and role model for the past twenty years. This is not 
to mention his outstanding community involvement. How many players have taken the Stanley Cup to 
children's hospitals? He deserves the benefit of the doubt. Terry Foster also makes some good 
points on this issue in today's Detroit News. Such as resting all the Olympians and the 
importance of the Stanley Cup over the President's trophy. Bottom line is, Steve Yzerman gets a
free pass unless he murders or rapes someone. 

2\26 Steve Yzerman apparently reinjured his knee during the Olympics and is out 2-3 weeks. 
Brendan Shanahan has a cast on his thumb and is expected to play tonight in Tampa Bay.

2\25 From the Detroit News: "Former Red Wings forward Vyacheslav Kozlov could be facing a career
threatening injury in Buffalo. Kozlov suffered a slice in his left Achilles tendon Dec. 29 and 
hasn't returned yet. And might not ever, he said this week. "What if I'm not going to play?" 
Kozlov said. "I can't believe when I'm going to retire and not play hockey anymore. What are 
you going to do?" Kozlov is a restricted free agent after this season. If he does play one more 
year, he'll be an unrestricted. Sabres GM Darcy Regier says he expects a recovery and to have 
Kozlov in the lineup next season. "It's (the loss of his career) in there all the time," Kozlov 
said. "But you have to put that (thought) away when it's in your head. It's the toughest injury 
of my career. It's the toughest time, too. It's a long process. I miss hockey a lot."

2\24 The Olympics are over and Canada has won the Gold, USA the Silver, and Russia the Bronze.
Here's how individual Red Wings faired:
 Canada: Gold
  Steve Yzerman: 6gp 2g 4a 2pim
  Brendan Shanahan: 6gp 0g 1a 0pim

 USA: Silver
  Chris Chelios: Captain 6gp 1g 0a 4pim +6, All Tournament Team
  Brett Hull:6gp 6gp 3g 5a 6pim

 Russia: Bronze
  Igor Larionov: Captain 6gp 0g 3a 4pim
  Sergei Fedorov: 6gp 2g 2a 4pim
  Pavel Datsyuk: 5gp 1g 2a 0pim

 Sweden
  Tomas Holmstrom: 4gp 1g 0a 2pim
  Fredrick Olausson: 4gp 0g 0a 2pim +5
  Nick Lidstrom: 4gp 1g 5a 0pim +2
  Henrik Zetterberg (prospect): 3gp 0g 1a 0pim 

 Czek Republic
  Dominik Hasek: 1-2-1 record saves97 shots105

  Shanny Broke his thumb in the game against Finland. The injury could keep him out of the 
Red Wings' lineup for two weeks. A Wings team physician had examined the injury and cleared 
Shanahan to finish the tournament. Back to buisiness. Next up: at Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

2\14 The Red Wing defense and Dominik Hasek crushed the Wild and the team wins 2-0 dispite 
quality Minnesota goaltending. Scoring were Maltby and Dandenault, both assisted by Yzerman.
This was Scotty Bowman's 400th win with the Wings, behind only Jack Adams with 413. 
  After the game, Bowman was livid about the loss of forward Brent Gilchrist on waivers to 
the Dallas Stars earlier in the day.Bowman pointed a finger at executive vice-president 
Jimmy Devellano, saying the move was financial. "I'm very sour," Bowman said. "I'm 
disappointed losing Brent Gilchrist. I mean, (Sean) Avery is OK, but he's a rookie."
 Gilchrist makes $625,000 but is owed approximately $180,000 with two-thirds of the season 
almost over. Avery is making approximately $350,000 on an entry-level NHL contract.
 "I can assure you it had nothing to do with finances," said Devellano, who was contacted 
after Wednesday's game. "Sean Avery is a player who can add more to our team now than Brent 
Gilchrist. It's about having the best players on the team. If Brent Gilchrist had been a real 
contributor to our team, he would have played more." Essentially, the Wings decided to expose 
Gilchrist rather than Avery, a rookie center.
  General Manager Ken Holland said Avery's play was an overriding factor in keeping him. 
Holland, who is traveling with the Wings, had no comment on Bowman's words. Captain Steve 
Yzerman, whose activation off the injured list caused the Wings to put Gilchrist on waivers, 
said he was disappointed. "He's a good friend and he was a good teammate," Yzerman said. 
"Everything happened so suddenly." One day I'm off the list, then we put Brent on waivers, 
and we lose him."[Detroit News]
Next up: The Olympics. The next Detroit game is February 26 at Tampa Bay.

2\13 Brent Gilchrist was claimed off of waiver by Dallas. He played in Dallas from 1993 until 
1997 when he went to Detroit. Gillie was never a big goal scorer, but few are as gritty and 
consistant as he is. He only played in 18 games this year and not many last year.

2\12 Shanny put in the game winner with :14 remaining, his 30th, to help the Wings past the Hans 
3-2. Fedorov added two more goals for his 20th. Next up: at Minnesota tomarrow.
  Pavel Datsyuk was named to the Russian Olympic team. He's the 11th Wing going to Salt lake, 
plus the Wings have a goalie in the system who'll be Tommy Salo's backup for Sweden. They lead
the league by three or four players in that catagory.
  Steve Yzerman returned as expected in Montreal. Brent Gilchrist was placed on waivers to make 
room for The Captain.
  The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will soon present the Luc Robitaille Trophy, which will 
be given to the team with the best offensive average during the regular season. In three seasons 
with the Quebec League, Robitaille had 155 goals and 269 assists for 424 points (in 197 games).

2\10 Sergei Fedorov netted two and Steve Duchesne popped in a power play goal to lead the 
Wings to a 3-2 win over the high scoring Senators. Next up: at Montreal on Monday.
    From the Detroit News: "KANATA, Onatrio -- Sergei Fedorov had two goals and looked to be
on his way to a third during the Red Wings' 3-2 victory against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
  "It would have been nice," Fedorov said of the missed opportunity.
  But the league office will look over the play next week and could award Fedorov a goal because 
he was pulled down on a breakaway in an empty-net situation.
  Fedorov was sprung free by Brett Hull in the waning seconds of the game. With an open net and 
clear ice ahead of him, Fedorov looked to have his hat trick. But Senators forward Daniel 
Alfredsson dragged down Fedorov and was called for tripping at 20 minutes of the third.
  The third goal would have been a fitting ending to a fine night for Fedorov, whose two second 
period goals ignited the Wings. His first goal Saturday was the 350th of his career.
    Ken Daniels's sometimes broadcast partner Doug Brown has been contacted by several team to 
play before the March trade deadline. He pulled emergency TV duty in Ottawa when former Wings'
defenseman Larry Murphy's father turned ill.

2\9 Columbus got all the lucky bounces and scored three garbage goals to beat the Wings 3-2
at the Joe. Scoring were Hull and Chelios. Manny Legace has lost two straight. 
Next up: at Ottawa tonight.
    Steve Yzerman is skating again and should return Monday in Montreal. He was named an
assistant captain for the Canadian Olympic team.

2\7 Once again the Wings faced a hot goalie. This time it was Mike Richter. With team speed
and beating the Rangers to every loose puck, the Wings win 3-1. Scoring were Draper, 
Gilchrist, and Fedorov. In the teams' three previous meetings, the Wings outscored the 
Rangers, 20-2. Next up: Columbus at the Joe on Friday.
    The Wings are currently the #1 offensive and #1 defensive team in the league.

2\5 The Wings totally outplayed the Avs and the only reason behind the 3-1 score was the
amazing saves of (GULP!) Patrick Roy. Scoring were McCarty, Maltby(sh), and Lidstrom(en).
Jesse Wallin recorded his first NHL point with an assist on the McCarty goal. Next up: 
The Rangers at the Joe tomarrow.

2\3 Sergei Fedorov had a hell of an all-star weekend. He won the hardest shot competition 
(101.5mph), finished second in the fastest skating compitition to Carolina's Sami Kapanen,
and had a goal in the all-star game. Next up: at Colorado tomarrow.