Instead of just doing the typical game notes and predictions, in the spirit of the season, I’m going to submit you to my early Christmas wish-list.  Maybe the Red Wings can get me some of these on black-friday…

All I want for Christmas:

1. I want Ville Leino to purchase a nice cottage in northern michigan and retire there.  He obviously does not want to put out the effort Detroit fans expect form their players, and this way he’d be able to tell all the people up-north about his glory days playing for our beloved hockey team.  Maybe in 20-25 years an age group will come along that will marvel at the fact that he once wore the winged-wheel, failing to realize that he was a complete disappointment the entire time he did.  Little would they know, he only played for us because of gary’s salary cap and the obnoxious amount of injuries we’ve sustained.  I’m done with Ville…yes, I’m writing him off.  I hear Charlevoix is nice this time of year…
2. I want Todd Bertuzzi to join Ville.  Reference everything I wrote above and apply it to Bert.
3. I want Johan Franzen to stop thinking that he’s going to make it back for the olympic games.  This scares the thanksgiving stuffing out of me.  So he wants to skate in a month, then play in a couple games with the Wings, followed by a grueling 2-week single-elimination tournament.  Coming off ACL surgery, somehow this doesn’t seem like a spectacular idea to me.  The last thing the Wings need is Franzen to re-injure anything or even be hurting heading into March.  This is all considering that we may, unfortunately, be battling in the playoff race come that time of year.  We need the Mule back strong and healthy.
4. I want better Special Teams.  Namely I want better Penalty-Killing.  We’re the Red Wings, and we have “great” defensive depth and a good core of penalty-killers.  Yet somehow we can’t actually stop other teams from scoring…it baffles me.
5. I want Ken Holland to go back in time and sign Vinny Prospal to play wing rather than Bert or Williams.  Oh hindsight…
6. I want Georges Laraque to never play another NHL game.  It’s painful to watch this man play hockey, and no fan should ever have to pay to see it.  End this.  Immediately.  (I’m looking at you Bob Gainey.)
7. I want Ryan Getzlaf.  What!? I’m allowed to dream alright.  It’s Christmastime, maybe a surprise is awaiting me…
8. I want the Red Wings to sign Darren Helm for life so that I can feel confident purchasing a #43 jersey soon.
9. I want the Red Wings to have a 4-game winning streak at any point this season.
10. Finally, I want to wake up and have this nightmare be over.  I’m ready for April and for us to be a top-4 seed.  I don’t enjoy watching games like the last two.  I’m sick of hearing about different players “trying” and “working hard.”  This is the Red Wings.  To quote our favorite muppet Yoda: “Do or do not, there is no try.”  That is a mantra the Wings need to pick up and run with.  The Red Wings win.  Period.  If they aren’t then things need to get changed.  I’m tired, and I’m not enjoying the fact that we’re not even in the top 8 in the conference right now.  I’m not completely freaking out, but this is taxing as a Wings fan and I’d simply like to be reminded at Christmastime that my hockey team is still one of the premiere franchises in the league.  Let’s start with tonight.

Side note, at the pace the Red Wings are taking shots and failing to score goals, I only have one thing to tell them…You’ll shoot your eye out.

Calgary Flames vs. Detroit Red Wings

November 27th 7:00pm, Joe Louis Arena

Game Notes:

1. Eaves is back in the lineup and Brad May is the odd-man-out for the rotation tonight.  It was surprising to see Eaves sit, but I’m glad he made a quick return.  He’s played decent and deserves to be in the lineup.
2. Ozzie starts tonight due to the goaltending carousel the Red Wings have going on right now.  Howard will probably get the start tomorrow since it’s a back-to-back.
3. Jarome Iginla is really awesome.  As in 16G-7A-23Pts-28PIM awesome.  Hopefully his awesomeness is not on display tonight…
4. Mikka Kiprusoff will likely start for the Flames in goal tonight, since he plays like 95 games a season for them.  He is prone to have some great games followed by 6-7 goal duds. He’s given up 5 goals in his last 3 starts.  Hopefully this means his due for a flop.

Bold and Stupid Predictions:

1. The Red Wings score tonight. (Bold, I know…)
2. Dion Phaneuf puts a questionable hit on a Wing and we somehow are left wishing Brad May was in the lineup to respond…
3. Abdelkader puts a goal in tonight.
4. The Red Wings have the lead in the 3rd but blow it due to defensive let-downs…
5. Final Score:  Flames Win 4-3/SO.

Between the hours of noon and midnight on any given fall Saturday, the TV is reserved for NCCA football. A few Saturday’s ago, I was able to pry the remote from my friend’s cold, death-grip to catch the Red Wing’s first televised pregame against the Buffalo Sabers.

As I moaned and groaned about Howard’s skittish, part-happy, part pee-pee-dance between the posts, my friend asked, “So, what’s the big deal about this game? It’s only pre-season, right?”

ONLY Pre-season?!?! Hey, I didn’t say he was my best  friend. While I can see his point…the stats, technically, don’t count. The pre-season is an extension of training camp. Also, it’s a scrimmage to fight for a chance on the ice. With the Wings, it’s the chance for a spot on the 3 or 4^th line. As the ’09 playoffs show, a team with a solid 3rd or 4^th line is the difference between a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, or a plane ticket back home after a first round bust. (Paging the Sharks…)

Let’s take a look at some breakout 3 and 4^th liners from the 09 playoffs:

Darren Helm (C): The 22 year old from Winnipeg played 23 games in the post-season. What made Helm stand out was his aggressive defense. Who doesn’t remember his role in killing off precious power play minutes from the Finals?  Not only is he skilled in the PP kill, he also can lay out a sucker. Helm pummeled the poor Penguins, recording 32 hits throughout the Pittsburgh series alone: the most of any Wing. Oh, and to top it off, he scored the series (and conference) winning goal against Chicago. Is there a Mrs. Helm? If not, I think I just fell in love….

Jonathan Ericsson (D): Ericsson, a 25 year old from (where else?) Sweden, scored the Wing’s only goal in the Final-game-that-shall-not-be-named. He played 22 playoff games and only missed a few games to have his appendix removed. Can’t get more hardcore than that. He continues to wow during this pre-season, averaging 20 minutes on ice and scoring a goal during the September 16 match up against the New York Rangers

Justin Abdelkader (LW): Abdelkader, or as I christen him “The Wave of the Future” has all of the potential to be a top of the line Wing.  The home town favorite from Michigan State University scored in the first two Final games against Pittsburgh and continues to impress in the pre-season. With his speed and ability to win face-offs, he was definitely one of the most exciting players to watch during Saturday’s game against Buffalo.  He’s already scored 3 goals in three preseason games. With Helm out, he’s going to have to ride that wave into the regular season.

So, there you have it. As the ’09 playoffs show, even though a team has incredible depth, it’s the 3 and 4 lines that make or break a team. So when your football friends freak when you steal the remote for a game that “doesn’t count”, try not to break out your Charlie Weis or Rich Rodriguez voodoo doll. They don’t need any more bad ju-ju anyway.

Hi again, Dear readerz…It’z Deja Vu ALL Over Again…

Our Vaunted Red Wingz are well on their way 2 winnin’ that “middle cup” outta tha 3-peat that’z in tha workz!

Round about this time last year crybaby crosby of the Pittsburgh penguins and crew were havin’ their own asses handed 2 ‘em w/ 2 straight shut-outz by Osgood n’ Our Boyz in Red 2 open tha Stanley Cup Finalz .

Tha Wingz have been gracious enuff not 2 totally embarrass their “guests” this year (they’re savin’ THAT goal 4 tha 2 upcomin’ road gamez = )…who jus’ happen 2 be the pens, again. Tha “mirror” 3-1 winz in tha 1st back-2-back Stanley Cup Finalz gamez in over 50 yearz only demonstratez how disciplined, hungry n’ ready Our Boyz in Red are 2 take tha Cup yet again. Even our normally somewhat pacifist, Henrik Zetterberg, wuz mo’ than willin’ 2 protect (along w/ some a’ hiz otha teammatez)  Our Goalie, tha Wizard a’ Os, n’ himself: (See below)

Tha Detroit Red Wingz n' Zetterberg Score tha Game 2 TKO! = )

NHL uses only rules that are convenient – Jeff Passan

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Aq77nZVLfAR4QyotW.ZGpsd7vLYF?slug=jp-malkin053109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Feel free 2 click on tha link above 2 get tha Real Deal from one a’ tha few sportzwriterz in the “lame”stream media 2 out the NHL on the way it twists & tortures its own rules 2 seek the outcome it’d mos’ like 2 see!

Now…if only they’d get on NBC about the totally biased and hackneyed broadcasts that they put on 4 a national audience. Between theze 2 instances, alone, it’z no wonder the NHL iz havin’ a difficult time attractin’ new non-traditional fanz 2 tha Sport!

The Detroit Red Wings are up 2-0  in the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals.  In Game 2 of this best of seven series, the Wings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 on home ice.  The game was at Joe Louis Arena (“The Joe”)  in Detroit. The game was broadcast on NBC and the announcers did a great job. 

Goal tending:  Osgood (DET) had 31 saves, while Fleury (PIT) had 23.

For the second straight night, Abdelkader scored a goal.  That’s impressive!

There was a great scrap near game’s end between Henrik Zetterberg and Eugeni Malkin.

Game 3 will be in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, June 2 at 8PM EST.

Go Wings!! Octopus for all!

This calls for…..

The Hockey Song

Oh, the good old hockey game,

Is the best game you can name

And the best game you can name

Is the GOOOOD OLDDDDD HOCKEEEEEY GAAAAAME!!

Written by Stompin’ Tom Connors

…it feelz like Home! = )

Gangstaz' Paradise = )

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2009/news?columnist=lebrun_pierre&id=4218640

Watchin’ Our Vaunted Red Wingz rather systematically dismantle the Pittsburgh penguins durin’ their 3-1 win in tha Stanley Cup Finalz opener earlier today (Sat) confirm’d our advanced prediction/vision of a 3-peat after our boyz clinch this “middle” Cup title…

It’z comin’… = )

Por fin llega lo que tanto me pedíais, la receta de la tortilla, veréis que es muy fácil. Aunque antes de ver el video tendréis que realizar los siguientes ejercicios.

 - ¿Te gusta esta comida?

- ¿Cuándo la has probado?

- ¿Dónde la has probado?

- ¿Has comido alguna otra comida española?¿Cuál?

Ahora sí, mira el video

Y cómo no, después de haber visto el video, algunos ejercicios más.

2) Escribe los ingredientes de la receta en un documento word.

3) Copia  en ese documento word este texto incompleto y rellena los huecos de la receta poniendo los verbos en futuro.

4) Enviáme el documento a mi correo para corregírtelo.  Si está bien, te lo devolveré con los verbos en presente para que te lo puedas guardar

Tortilla de patatas

(Pelar) ……………… las patatas con un pelador y las (lavar) ……………. bien con agua.

(Cortar) ………………… las patatas a lonchas bastante finas (casi como patatas chips) para que la patata se deshaga al freírla. (Partir)…………………… cada loncha de patata por la mitad.

(Poner) …………………… abundante aceite de oliva en una sartén (para que cubra las patatas luego) y (poner) ……………… los 2 ajos sin pelar a freír. Cuando el aceite de oliva esté bien caliente (añadir) ………………… la patata lentamente y (distribuir) ……………………… uniformemente las lonchas para que no se enfríe mucho el aceite, no se peguen las patatas y todo se cocine de forma homogénea.

(Utilizar) ………………… una cebolleta pequeña fresca si no queremos mucho sabor (eso va a gustos). (Cortar) …………… el tallo un poco por encima de la base de la cebolla y lo (cortar) ………………….., todo a taquitos o en juliana.

(Poner) ………………….. en un boll los huevos y los (batir) ………………. A continuación, cuando empiece a deshacerse la patata, (verter) …………………… la cebolla encima de la patata para que se empiece a freír. (Esperar) ………………… un poquito y (remover) ………………………….. todo con la espátula para que se mezcle bien y se vaya deshaciendo.

Una vez hecha la patata y la cebolla, (retirar) ………………………. los ajos y escurriendo bien con las cucharas (ir) …………………… introduciendo el sofrito en el bol con los huevos batidos. Lo (mezclar) ……………………… todo bien para obtener una mezcla homogénea. (Echar) ………………………. dos puñados de sal a gusto y en la proporción adecuada y (remover) ………………… todo para que se sale uniformemente.

Aquí, (llegar)………………. al momento clave: (verter) ……………………. la mezcla en una sartén del tamaño adecuado a la tortilla. La sartén (tener) ……………….. que estar bien limpia y bien caliente. Tras unos segundos, (bajar) ……………….. el fuego del fogón. El rato que la (dejar) …………………… en el fuego va a gustos, en función de si nos gusta muy hecha o poco hecha.

Con la cuchara de madera o espátula, (despegar) ………………….. la tortilla un poco por los bordes para poder darle la vuelta. A continuación, (tapar) …………………. la sartén con un plato. (Poner) ……………. la palma de la mano en el plato y (dar) ……………la vuelta a la sartén (ojo no quemarse si queda aceite!). (Esperar) ……………….. que se haga la tortilla por el otro lado y (sacudir) ……………….. la sartén horizontalmente para que no se pegue la tortilla. Se (poder) ………………. volver a dar la vuelta a la tortilla si se quiere dorar un poco más el lado que se ha cocido inicialmente. La tortilla estará lista para servir. Buen provecho!

TRUCOS

• Para la tortilla de patata se suele poner siempre uno o dos huevos más del número de personas para la que va a prepararla. Si son 4 personas, 5 ó 6 huevos

• La sartén tiene que estar bien caliente cuando se vierte la mezcla del huevo batido

Seguimos repasando. En esta ocasión volvemos a los artículos. No te preocupes si no recuerdas muy bien cuáles son o cómo usarlos; en el enlace que os dejo, viene todo ello. Para hacer bien estos ejercicios, tenéis que seguir siempre las mismas indicaciones:

- primero, escucha el texto,

- segundo, lee el texto,

- y tercero, haz los ejercicios y corrígelos.

Si tienes dudas sobre cómo hacerlo, llámame. Este ejercicio lo haréis por parejas que yo diré.

Los artículos

Vamos a repasar cómo preguntamos o decimos la hora. Para ello, clica encima de la palabra hora y

- primero, escucha el texto,

- luego, lee el texto,

- y tercero, haz los ejercicios, al final podrás corregirlos.

No olvides ponerte los auriculares y trabajar individualmente. Si tienes dudas, llámame.

- La hora

Esta actividad os resultará fácil.

Pero antes de continuar tendréis que:

1. Señalar tres cosas que os traigan a la cabeza esta frase “papeles mojaos“. Levantad la mano para responder.
2. Ahora sí, escuchad el video

- Completad la letra de la canción Papeles mojaos – Chambao – Con otro aire

Miles de sombras cada noche ________ la marea,
__________  cargaos de ilusiones que en la orilla se quedan.
Historias del día día, historias de buena gente.
Se ________ la vida cansaos, con hambre y un frío que pela.
__________ sus penas con una candela, ponte tu en su lugar,
el miedo que en sus ojos _________, la mar se echo a llorar. Muchos no llegan se hunden sus sueño papeles mojaos, papeles sin dueño Muchos no llegan, se hunden sus sueño papeles mojaos, papeles sin dueño

Muchos no _________, se _________ sus sueños papeles mojaos, papeles sin dueño.

Fragiles recuerdos a la __________  ______________ el alma,
cala to los huesos el agua los arrastra sin esperanza.
La impotencia en su garganta con sabor a sal,
una bocanada de aire le da otra oportunidad.
Tanta noticia me ___________, ponte tu en su lugar,
el miedo que en sus ojos reflejan, la mar se echo a llorar.

Muchos no llegan, se hunden sus sueños papeles mojaos, papeles sin dueño.

Muchos no llegan, se hunden sus sueños papeles mojaos, papeles sin dueño
Muchos no llegan, se hunden sus sueños papeles mojaos, papeles sin dueño.

UN POCO DE GRAMÁTICA 

 Ya recordaréis que el verbo en pasado lo usamos para indicar una acción que ha ocurrido ya, que ya ha sucedido. Aunque hay varios tiempos para decir el pasado, varias formas de decirlo,  vamos a conocer un poco más el Imperfecto  de Indicativo. Para ayudaros, clicad en el siguiente enlace y repasad la teoría: Verbos en pasado

- Ahora toca hacer unos ejercicios

- Historias del día día

- Historias de buena gente

 - Frío que pela

- Cala to los huesos

Para resolverlo os pondréis en parejas, yo diré quién con quién y lo escribiréis en word y lo subiréis al blog. Lo corregimos aquí.

- Ejercicios individuales de repaso del verbo en Pt. imperfecto. Recuerda que antes de cerrar la página o de pasar a otro ejercicio, me tienes que llamar para ver lo que has hecho.

• La niñez de Carlitos
• Como soy, como era
• Gramaclicando 1
• Gramaclicando 2
• Gramaclicando con verbos irregulares

Y para acabar la sesión, a jugar!!

• Demuestra cuántas ciudades españolas conoces

by Lindsay Kramer || NHL.com

Lindsay Kramer, the AHL correspondent for NHL.com, profiles an up-and-coming player each Monday during the season, and his AHL notebook appears each Thursday on NHL.com.

Interstate 96 in the heart of Michigan can transport a hockey player to a lot of dreams.

Grand Rapids Griffins rookie center Justin Abdelkader has used the road to travel from high school hero to a college storybook ending to NHL fairy tale to AHL hotshot.

“I feel like I’ve been at every stop,” said Abdelkader, who was speaking of geographical destinations, but just as easily could have been referring to rungs on the hockey ladder.

How far can he take the interstate? Well, it’s 192 miles long, but Abdelkader looks like he’s going a lot farther than that.

At the tender age of 21, Abdelkader is already staking a claim as his generation’s Forrest Gump. Except that Tom Hanks’ character was simply in the right place at the right time, while Abdelkader has created his own good fortune with talent and hard work.

He’s weaved his way along I-96 through the connecting cities of Muskegon, where he was named the state’s “Mr. Hockey” in high school; to East Lansing, where he was a standout at Michigan State; to Detroit, where he got a quick taste of the NHL for the Stanley Cup champ Red Wings last season; to Grand Rapids, where his seven goals and two assists in seven games for the Griffins in October earned him AHL rookie of the month honors.

“It’s hard for it to sink in, how fortunate I really am,” he said. “I try to live in the moment. When I step back and think about everything that happened, everything fell in line perfectly for me.”

For as much as Abdelkader has locked his home state into a tight embrace, his key career move might have been temporarily leaving it. In 2004-05, what would have been his senior year in high school, he decided to play for Cedar Rapids of the USHL.

The choice gave him wider exposure against better competition, and he milked that for every drop by producing 27 goals and 25 assists. Detroit then plucked him in the second round of the 2005 draft.

“I wasn’t really on the radar. No NHL scouts come to high school games, not even college scouts,” he said. “I had to have a good year in juniors. I felt like I got better and better as the season went on.”

Abdelkader skated back to the nest to play for Michigan State. As a sophomore he potted the game-winning goal in the NCAA title game against Boston College with just 18.9 seconds left to give the Spartans their first championship in 21 years.

“It’s a combination of everything. It’s a little luck, being in the right place at the right time,” he said of coming through in the clutch. “Hopefully it’s something I bring to each team. I think it brings out the best in me, playing under pressure.”

Grand Rapids coach Curt Fraser said big-time efforts and players like Abdelkader are more than just a random pairing.

“I just think he does things correctly when he’s on the ice, and it puts him in position to be successful,” Fraser said. “He’s one step ahead. He has very good habits on the ice. When you’re a kid like Abdelkader, you prepare yourself for the moment when it happens.”

After a junior season in which Abdelkader contributed 19 goals and 21 assists for the Spartans, he was invited to join the Red Wings at the end of the season. That was another golden lottery ticket.

Abdelkader made his NHL debut with Detroit in its Presidents’ Trophy-clinching win, Apr. 3 vs. Columbus. He happily toiled as a black ace during the Red Wings’ title run, hoping some of the brilliance of his hometown hockey heroes seeped into his game by osmosis.

“Seeing how much dedication they put into it is amazing. They don’t win by accident, that’s for sure,”

Abdelkader said of his first impression of the big time. “It trickles down to the younger guys like us. It’s hard not to look around in awe. But after the first couple of days, they are line ordinary guys.”

If there was any potential stretch for an Abdelkader dry spell, it would have been at the start of this AHL season. While Grand Rapids is a fresh challenge for him, it’s also a demotion from the place Abdelkader ended last season.

Few things can match the excitement of a backstage pass to a Stanley Cup. The emotion of winning an NCAA title for your backyard school is also overwhelming. A chance at the Calder Cup, if it comes at all, is one very long minor-league season away. But Abdelkader scored a goal in each of his first two games, ripped off a hat trick in his fifth and went from there.

“When you get to that next level, they don’t care what you did (before). You have to prove yourself at every level,” Abdelkader said.

“Certainly, Justin is making a case for his role in the future with the Detroit Red Wings,” Fraser said. “He has good skill, great speed and is tough. From the opening faceoff at the Traverse City prospects camp, he’s been an impact player. Every game he steps on the ice, you notice something from this kid. He’s a special player.”

They may be biased, but a large group of Griffins fans agree. With Muskegon just 40 minutes from Grand Rapids, Abdelkader has a sizeable cheering section at every game and even more reason to appreciate staying close to home.

“I feel really fortunate to be able to play in front of my home fans like this. I just want to make them proud,” he said. “It’s not pressure. The pressure is just to have a winning team here.”

That task couldn’t be in more credible hands.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Grand Rapids Griffins center Justin Abdelkader has been named the Reebok Edge/AHL Rookie of the Month for October. Abdelkader scored seven goals and added two assists for nine points in seven games for the Griffins.

Abdelkader scored his first professional goal and was named the game’s third star in his Griffins debut, a 4-3 overtime loss at Lake Erie on Oct. 11. He came back with a goal and an assist in a 4-3 shootout win over Lake Erie on Oct. 18, and registered a hat trick in Grand Rapids’ 6-3 victory over Norfolk on Oct. 26. Abdelkader closed out October with a third-period tally in a 3-2 overtime loss at Milwaukee on Oct. 31.

In recognition of his achievement, Abdelkader will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Griffins home game.

A native of nearby Muskegon, Mich., Abdelkader leads the Griffins and finished the month tied for second in the AHL with his seven goals. The 21-year-old forward was a second-round draft choice by Detroit (42nd overall) in 2005 and made his professional debut with the Red Wings last season, skating in two regular-season games following his junior season at Michigan State University. In three years with the Spartans, Abdelkader totaled 44 goals and 51 assists for 95 points in 124 games and scored the winning goal in the 2007 NCAA championship game.

Other nominees for Reebok Edge/AHL Rookie of the Month include Albany center Nick Dodge, Binghamton center Zack Smith, Bridgeport defenseman Andrew MacDonald, Chicago center Matt Anderson, Hamilton center Ben Maxwell, Houston center Jason Deitsch, Iowa goaltender Jean-Philippe Levasseur, Lake Erie center T.J. Galiardi, Lowell right wing Matt Halischuk, Manitoba right wing Raymond Sawada, Milwaukee center Nick Spaling, Philadelphia right wing Claude Giroux, Portland left wing Tim Kennedy, Providence right wing Mikko Lehtonen, Quad City right wing Adam Cracknell, Rochester defenseman Jason Garrison, Rockford defenseman Jean-Claude Sawyer, San Antonio left wing Brett MacLean, Syracuse right wing Maksim Mayorov and Worcester left wing Jamie McGinn.