Time for the beards

With the playoffs right around the corner and the Wings starting to shape up into playoff form, so do the playoff beards. This just tells you what type of people hockey players are. Sure the Spurs do it in the NBA but are they constantly getting stitched up for a puck to the face or rubbed all over by a sweaty glove? No, that shit is tough, I can't even think about shaving if I let my hair grow out for more than three days without a few tears shimmering down my check and these guys are getting 15 stitches and right back in the next period?

Ah but I'm not here to talk about just beards, the Red Wings are also going to make another run at Lord Stanley this year with a chance at back to back titles. For me the only other sport that is harder to go back to back is the NFL, but hockey playoffs still provide some great upsets and no team is safe. No, not even the Wings.



It is pretty easy to look at what it will take for the Red Wings to win again, goal tending and defense. These both have been the focal points of worry by fans and myself. I do however see the wings getting into the swing of things at just the right time. Even before a game the captain Nick Lidstrom said he thought this team was in better shape than at the same time last year.

With Hossa, Franzen, Zetterberg, Daytsuk, and many other offensive threats the Wings will be able to score. The outcome of the game however will largely depend on how the defense plays.

In short, with the coach we have and leaders who have gone through the beards for so many years now the Wings will have more than enough to get a consecutive title. It won't be easy and there will surely be a hot goaltender or two who give them a difficult time. Osgood will step up and show that once again the fans can talk and talk, but he will do it with his play.

Does it ever get old? And to think the Great One gave it away to the Captain