3\30 Well, the good news is the Wings came from behind and smoked the Canucks 6-3. The 
bad news is Yzerman's out a week with a bum knee, Holmstrom took a puck to the chops 
and is day to day, and Kozzie got his 'bell rung' and is also day to day. Scoring were
Sergei Fedorov, who netted his 300th career goal, Murphy, Gill, Draper, Roest, and 
Duchesne(en). Next up: at St.Louis on Saturday. The Blues currently lead the Wings by 
1 point and have two games in hand. 

3\28 Picking up where they left off, the Wings stiffled the Rangers and piled on the 
goals, winning 6-0. Chris Osgood earned his 28th shutout and was awesome doing so, 
stopping 40 shots. Some of them should have been goals, but Ozzie would have none of 
that. Dominic who? Scoring were Gill, Yzerman(2), Gilchrist, Maltby, and Holmstrom. 
Shanny added three assists and Stacy Roest's Gretsky-esk pass set up Yzerman's second 
goal. Next up: the wily Canucks at the Joe tomarrow. 

3\26 The Wings made the Rangers look like second rate junior players, pelting Richter 
and later, Mclean with 43 shots on their way to an 8-2 victory. There were a ton of 
highlights in this game, most notibly Marty Lapointe with his first NHL hat trick. 
Others include Steve Yzerman's shot ripping Mike Richter's glove off before it went in
the net and Larry Murphy getting a match penalty (you read that right) in the first for
a spear that wasn't even caught on camera. Scoring were Lapointe(3),Shanahan, Yzerman, 
Fedorov(sh), Holmstrom, and Lidstrom. Chris Osgood added an assist and Jiri Fischer
continues to play like a veteran. Next up: at the Rangers tomarrow night.
 
3\26 Steve Duschesne got a 2 game suspension for a high stick on Nashville's forward 
Ville Peltonen. It came as a surprise to me, but then again it's the issue du'jour in 
the NHL, so every little tap is getting attention.

3\24 This game started much like the last two, with the Wings struggling for offense, 
taking bad penalties, and being down 1-3 after one. But, the Wings roared back with 4 
second period goals to beat the Predleys 6-3. Scoring were Roest, Dandenault, Murphy, 
Fedorov, Holmstrom, and Gilchrist(en). Ken Wregget is 5-0-1 in his last 6 starts. Jiri 
Fischer got in his first NHL fight and manhandled Nashville's Moro.Brendan Shanahan 
missed his 2nd straight game with the flue, and Igor Larionov was left behing to rest up 
since the playoffs are 8 games away. Next up: the Rangers at the Joe on Sunday afternoon.     
     Scotty Bowman was fined $7500 for his comments about the officials after the 
Colorado game.

3\23 Once again, the Wings can't find any offense with the exception of Pat Verbeek who 
scored his 499th and 500th goals to lead the team to a 2-2 tie with Calgary. Next up: at
Nashville tonight.

3\22 As a reward for his consistant play, the Wings have signed Steve Duchesne to a two 
year, $3.2-million extension that includes a no-trade clause and an option for a third 
year. If the Wings exercise the option, Duchesne receives $1.6 million; if it's his option, 
he loses the no-trade and earns $1 million.
     There's still a lot of hub-bub about Scotty's outspoken displeasure with officiating 
last weekend. He could be fined as much as $25,000 because of previous offenses, but it 
looks unlikely anything will happen this far after the fact.
     Darren McCarty has concluded therapy and is expecting to begin skating later this week.
 
3\20 The Wings get an old fashoned ass whoopin' in Anaheim, losing 1-3. All four goals were 
powerplay. The Wings were unable to generate any offense. Scoring was Lidstrom. Next up: 
Calgary at the Joe on Wednesday.

3\18 Colorado failed once again to solve Detroit who completed the season series sweep with 
a 4-3 win in Denver. Sergei Fedorov continues to be on fire. Scoring were Fedorov(2),
Yzerman, and Malby(sh) with the game winner. Nick Lidstrom once again added three assists.
Ken Wregget got the win in net. Next up: at Anaheim tomarrow.
     Larry Murphy is tied with Alex Delvecchio for second all time NHL games played(1549) 
behind Gordie Howe(1767). Something in the water in Detroit.
     This was the first ever major network(ABC) televised game. And as such, Scotty Bowman 
was upset with the choice of officials. "The league needs ABC badly. We've got to promote 
the game. We're trying to get a (long-term network television) contract, and we get stuck 
with that. The league has got to take a better stand on assigning referees for games like 
this. We never get the top five (referees). It's not fair to both teams. You've got to put 
in your two best guys."
  "It was a huge game. These two teams represent probably the best rivalry in hockey. 
You've got ABC coming in here for the first game. You've got (Ray) Bourque's (400th) goal 
and everything else. It's a natural. This should have been treated like a Stanley Cup 
final."
  From the A.P.:"ABC's new contract with the NHL calls for it to televise a limited number 
of games this season, with the option of expanding its schedule in the future.
  In a stinging postgame diatribe, Bowman said too many penalties were called for minor 
incidents.
  "It was not a well-handled game," he said. "I was a little disappointed in all the calls. 
I didn't think it was that kind of a game."
  Bowman identified several top-notch referees who he said should have been assigned for 
the game.
  "We've got to get guys like Bill McCreary or Kerry Fraser or Don Koharski or Dan 
Marouelli," he said. "You can't take a chance in these games. Bryan Lewis (the NHL's 
director of officiating) should be questioned on that call, nobody else, not (commissioner 
Gary) Bettman, nobody."
  Dave Jackson and Rob Shick were the two referees for Saturday's game.
  "I have no respect for this one guy (Shick)," Bowman said.
  The coach said Shick cursed at him after a game about two weeks ago, and then, "He even 
rubbed it in with 1:24 to go today," Bowman said. "We had (Martin) Lapointe on the ice, and 
he wouldn't let him come off. Just to shove it in more, I guess. That's why I called a 
timeout."
     
3\16 The stale Wings fought hard, but came up short in OT, losing to the Leafs 3-4. Scoring
were Yzerman(2) and Shanahan. Next up: at Colorado on Saturday.
     Aaron Ward signed a one year deal with the Wings. No terms were disclosed.

3\15 It was a squeaker, but the Wings prevailed 3-2 in OT. Brendan Shanahan got the game 
winner on his knees. Nashville's two goals were both short handed, but two of the freakiest 
I've ever seen in one game. Scoring were Fedorov and Shanahan(2). Nick Lidstrom had 3 assists, 
and if he doesn't win the Norris, there's a conspiracy. He is currently the leading scorer 
among defenseman in the NHL. Next up: Toronto at the Joe tomarrow.
     Injury updates: Darren McCarty should be practicing by weeks end...Aaron Ward could be 
back before the playoffs...Joey Kocur skated this morning, but no timetable has been set.

3\14 Not very much action on today's trade deadline from anybody. The Wings did, however, 
re-aquire Todd Gill from Phoenix late last night for minor leaguer and sometimes Red Wing 
Philippe Audette.

3\11 The Wings earn 8 of 10 possible points on the road trip, finishing 3-0-2 with a 3-1 win at 
Nashville. Scoring were Verbeek, Yzerman, and Maltby(sh). Next up: Nashville at the Joe on 
Tuesday.

3\9 The road weary Wings mustered a 1-1 tie at San Jose behind a great performance by Ken 
Wregget. Scoring was Shanahan. Next up: Friday night at Nashville.

3\8 Sergei Fedorov just keeps on rolling, getting his second shorthanded goal in 2 games while 
leading the Wings to a 3-1 win at Los Angelos. Chris Osgood was stellar. Scoring were Lidstrom, 
Fedorov(sh), and Verbeek(en). Next up: at San Jose tonight.

3\6 The Wings played balls out offensive hockey and were rewarded with a 5-3 win at Dallas. 
Other highlights of the game featured Shanahan whooping on Darian Hatcher, and Hatcher sitting 
in the box for a total of 19 minutes. Scoring were Fedorov(1+1sh), Lidstrom, Verbeek, and 
Shanahan(en). Next up: at L.A. on Tuesday.
    For those of you paying attention to Ray Bourque rumors, the latest include Mathiew 
Dandenault and a prospect, but don't believe all that you read.....Scotty Bowman will be on ESPN 
Up Close at 5:30 EST tonight.

3\4 After a 5 day layoff, the rested Wings tied at WWashington 2-2. Scoring were Kozlov and 
Yzerman. Olaf Kolzig had like 50 saves. Next up: at Dallas Sunday night.